UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.    )

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þ		Definitive Proxy Statement
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o		Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

FEDEX CORPORATION

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held September 26, 2011

 

 

To Our Stockholders:

 

We cordially invite you to attend the 2011 annual meeting of FedEx’s stockholders. The meeting will take place in the auditorium at the FedEx World Technology Center, 50 FedEx Parkway, Collierville, Tennessee 38017, on Monday, September 26, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. local time. We look forward to your attendance either in person or by proxy.

 

The purposes of the meeting are to:

 

 

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on August 1, 2011, may vote at the meeting or any postponements or adjournments of the meeting.

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By order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

CHRISTINE P. RICHARDS

Executive Vice President, General Counsel

and Secretary

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August 15, 2011

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HOW TO VOTE: Please complete, date, sign and return the accompanying proxy card or voting instruction card, or vote electronically via the Internet or by telephone. The enclosed return envelope requires no additional postage if mailed in the United States.

 

REDUCE MAILING COSTS: If you vote on the Internet, you may elect to have next year’s proxy statement and annual report to stockholders delivered to you electronically. We strongly encourage you to enroll in electronic delivery. It is a cost-effective way for us to provide you with proxy materials and annual reports.

 

ANNUAL MEETING ADMISSION: If you attend the annual meeting in person, you will need to present your admission ticket, or an account statement showing your ownership of FedEx common stock as of the record date, and a valid government-issued photo identification. The indicated portion of your proxy card or the ticket accompanying your voting instruction card will serve as your admission ticket. If you are a registered stockholder and receive your proxy materials electronically, you should follow the instructions provided to print a paper admission ticket.

 

Your vote is very important. Please vote whether or not you plan to attend the meeting.

 

2011 PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)

 

FedEx Corporation
942 South Shady Grove Road
Memphis, Tennessee 38120

 

2011 PROXY STATEMENT

 

FedEx’s Board of Directors is furnishing you this proxy statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies on its behalf for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting will take place in the auditorium at the FedEx World Technology Center, 50 FedEx Parkway, Collierville, Tennessee 38017, on Monday, September 26, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. local time. At the meeting, stockholders will be voting on the following items: (1) the election of the twelve nominees named in this proxy statement to the FedEx Board of Directors; (2) the adoption of an amendment to FedEx’s Certificate of Incorporation in order to allow holders of 20% or more of FedEx’s common stock to call a special meeting of stockholders (subject to the conditions set forth in FedEx’s Bylaws); (3) the ratification of FedEx’s independent registered public accounting firm; (4) an advisory vote on executive compensation; (5) an advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation; and (6) if properly presented at the meeting, three stockholder proposals. Stockholders also will consider any other matters that may properly come before the meeting, although we know of no other business to be presented.

 

By submitting your proxy (either by signing and returning the enclosed proxy card or by voting electronically on the Internet or by telephone), you authorize Christine P. Richards, FedEx’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and Alan B. Graf, Jr., FedEx’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, to represent you and vote your shares at the meeting in accordance with your instructions. They also may vote your shares to adjourn the meeting and will be authorized to vote your shares at any postponements or adjournments of the meeting.

 

FedEx’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011, which includes FedEx’s fiscal 2011 audited consolidated financial statements, accompanies this proxy statement. Although the Annual Report is being distributed with this proxy statement, it does not constitute a part of the proxy solicitation materials and is not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement.

 

We are first sending the proxy statement, form of proxy and accompanying materials to stockholders on or about August 15, 2011.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2011: The following materials are available on the Investor Relations page of the FedEx Web site at http://www.fedex.com/us/investorrelations:

 

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE PROMPTLY VOTE YOUR SHARES EITHER BY MAIL, VIA THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE.

 

Effect of Not Casting Your Vote: If your shares are held in “street name” (i.e., your shares are held by a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee — the “record holder”), in order to ensure your shares are voted in the way you would like, you must provide voting instructions to your record holder by the deadline provided in the materials you receive from your record holder. If you hold your shares in street name and you do not instruct your record holder as to how to vote your shares, your record holder may only vote your shares in its discretion on the adoption of the amendment to FedEx’s Certificate of Incorporation (Proposal 2) and the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 3), but will not be allowed to vote your shares on any of the other proposals described in this proxy statement, including the election of directors. If you are a stockholder of record and you do not sign and return your proxy card or vote electronically on the Internet or by telephone, no votes will be cast on your behalf on any of the items of business at the meeting.

 

At the annual meeting, the stockholders will be asked to:

 

 

Stockholders also will transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting. Members of FedEx’s management team will be present at the meeting to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

 

The record date for the meeting is August 1, 2011. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date are entitled to vote at the meeting. The only class of stock entitled to be voted at the meeting is FedEx common stock. Each outstanding share of common stock is entitled to one vote for all matters before the meeting. At the close of business on the record date there were 317,203,577 shares of FedEx common stock outstanding.

 

If your shares are registered in your name with FedEx’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are the “stockholder of record” (or “registered stockholder”) of those shares, and these proxy materials have been provided directly to you by FedEx.

 

If your shares are held by a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of shares held in “street name.” If your shares are held in street name, these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee (the “record holder”), along with a voting instruction card. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your record holder how to vote your shares by using the voting instruction card or by following their instructions for voting by telephone or on the Internet (if available), and the record holder is required to vote your shares in accordance with your instructions.

 

If you do not give voting instructions, your record holder will nevertheless be entitled to vote your shares in its discretion on the adoption of the amendment to FedEx’s Certificate of Incorporation (Proposal 2) and the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 3). Absent your instructions, the record holder will not be permitted, however, to vote your shares on the election of directors (Proposal 1), the advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal 4), the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation (Proposal 5) or the adoption of the three stockholder proposals (Proposals 6 through 8), and your shares will be considered “broker non-votes” on those proposals. See “How will broker non-votes be treated?” below.

As the beneficial owner of shares, you are invited to attend the annual meeting. If you are a beneficial owner, however, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy, executed in your favor, from the record holder of your shares.

 

If you receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction card that means your shares are registered differently and are held in more than one account. To ensure that all your shares are voted, please sign and return by mail all proxy cards and voting instruction cards or vote each account over the Internet or by telephone (if made available by the record holder with respect to any shares you hold in street name).

 

A quorum must be present at the meeting for any business to be conducted. The presence at the meeting, in person or represented by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding on the record date will constitute a quorum. Proxies received but marked as abstentions or treated as broker non-votes will be included in the calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the meeting.

 

If a quorum is not present at the meeting, the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting who are present, in person or represented by proxy, or the chairman of the meeting, may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is present. The time and place of the adjourned meeting will be announced at the time the adjournment is taken, and no other notice will be given.

 

1.  YOU MAY VOTE BY MAIL. If you properly complete, sign and date the accompanying proxy card or voting instruction card and return it in the enclosed envelope, it will be voted in accordance with your instructions. The enclosed envelope requires no additional postage if mailed in the United States.

 

2.  YOU MAY VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR ON THE INTERNET. If you are a registered stockholder, you may vote by telephone or on the Internet by following the instructions included on the proxy card. If you vote by telephone or on the Internet, you do not have to mail in your proxy card. If you wish to attend the meeting in person, however, you will need to bring your admission ticket. Internet and telephone voting are available 24 hours a day. Votes submitted through the Internet or by telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on September 25, 2011.

 

If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you still may be able to vote your shares electronically by telephone or on the Internet. The availability of telephone and Internet voting will depend on the voting process of the record holder of your shares. We recommend that you follow the instructions set forth on the voting instruction card provided to you.

 

NOTE: If you vote on the Internet, you may elect to have next year’s proxy statement and annual report to stockholders delivered to you electronically. We strongly encourage you to enroll in electronic delivery. It is a cost-effective way for us to provide you with proxy materials and annual reports.

 

3.  YOU MAY VOTE IN PERSON AT THE MEETING. If you are a registered stockholder and attend the meeting, you may deliver your completed proxy card in person. Additionally, we will pass out ballots to registered stockholders who wish to vote in person at the meeting. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name who wishes to vote at the meeting, you will need to obtain a legal proxy from your record

holder, bring it with you to the meeting, and hand it in with a signed ballot that will be provided to you at the meeting. Beneficial owners will not able to vote their shares at the meeting without a legal proxy.

 

If you own shares of FedEx common stock through a FedEx or subsidiary benefit plan, you can direct the trustee or the record holder to vote the shares held in your account in accordance with your instructions by completing the proxy card and returning it in the enclosed envelope or by registering your instructions via the Internet or telephone as directed on the proxy card. If you register your voting instructions by telephone or on the Internet, you do not have to mail in the proxy card. If you wish to attend the meeting in person, however, you will need to bring the admission ticket attached to the proxy card with you. In order to instruct a plan trustee or record holder on the voting of shares held in your account, your instructions must be received by September 21, 2011. If your voting instructions are not received by that date, each plan trustee will vote your shares in the same proportion as the plan shares for which voting instructions have been received.

 

Only stockholders eligible to vote or their authorized representatives will be admitted to the meeting. If you plan to attend the meeting, detach and bring with you the stub portion of your proxy card, which is marked “Admission Ticket.” You also must bring a valid government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport. If you received your proxy materials through the Internet, you should follow the instructions provided to print a paper admission ticket.

 

If your shares are held in street name, you must bring the “Admission Ticket” that accompanies your voting instruction card. Alternatively, you may bring other proof of ownership, such as a brokerage account statement, which clearly shows your ownership of FedEx common stock as of the record date. In addition, you must bring a valid government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport.

 

Security measures will be in place at the meeting to help ensure the safety of attendees. Metal detectors similar to those used in airports will be located at the entrance to the meeting room and briefcases, handbags and packages will be inspected. No cameras or recording devices of any kind, or signs, placards, banners or similar materials, may be brought into the meeting. Anyone who refuses to comply with these requirements will not be admitted.

 

Yes, if you are a registered stockholder you may revoke your proxy and change your vote prior to the completion of voting at the meeting by:

 

 

Your attendance at the meeting itself will not revoke your proxy unless you give written notice of revocation to the Secretary before your proxy is voted or you vote in person at the meeting.

 

If your shares are held in street name, you should contact the record holder of your shares and follow its procedures for changing your voting instructions. You also may vote in person at the meeting if you obtain a legal proxy from your record holder.

 

Yes, your vote will be kept confidential and not disclosed to FedEx unless:

 

 

FedEx’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., will tabulate and certify the votes. A representative of the transfer agent will serve as the inspector of election.

 

Your Board recommends that you vote:

 

 

If you submit a proxy but do not indicate any voting instructions, your shares will be voted:

 

 

We know of no other business to be conducted at the meeting. FedEx’s Bylaws require stockholders to give advance notice of any proposal intended to be presented at the meeting. The deadline for this notice has passed and we did not receive any notice that met the requirements of our Bylaws. If any other matter

properly comes before the stockholders for a vote at the meeting, the proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment.

 

A director nominee will be elected to the Board of Directors if the number of votes cast “for” such nominee’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” such nominee’s election. See “Corporate Governance Matters — Majority-Voting Standard for Director Elections” below.

 

A nominee who is not already serving as a director and who fails to receive the required majority vote will not be elected and thus will not serve on the Board of Directors.

 

Each current director who is standing for reelection at the annual meeting has tendered an irrevocable resignation from the Board of Directors that will take effect if the nominee does not receive the required majority vote and the Board accepts the resignation. If the Board accepts the resignation, the nominee will no longer serve on the Board of Directors, and if the Board rejects the resignation, the nominee will continue to serve until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier disqualification, death, resignation or removal. See “Corporate Governance Matters — Majority-Voting Standard for Director Elections” below.

 

If a director nominee named in this proxy statement is unable to stand for election, the Board of Directors may either reduce the number of directors to be elected or select a substitute nominee. If a substitute nominee is selected, the proxy holders may vote your shares for the substitute nominee.

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The approval of the amendment to FedEx’s Certificate of Incorporation in order to allow holders of 20% or more of FedEx’s common stock to call a special meeting of stockholders (subject to the conditions set forth in FedEx’s Bylaws) requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of FedEx common stock outstanding on the record date.

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The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as FedEx’s independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting, in person or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote.

 

Approval of the advisory proposal on executive compensation requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting, in person or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote.

 

As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding on FedEx, the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee. Because we highly value the opinions of our stockholders, however, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will consider the results of this advisory vote when making future executive compensation decisions.

 

Stockholders may vote to have the advisory vote on executive compensation held every year, every two years or every three years, or you may abstain from voting. The option of one year, two years or three years that receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting, in person or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote will be the frequency for the advisory vote on executive compensation selected by our stockholders. In the absence of a majority of votes cast in support of any one frequency, the option of one year, two years or three years that receives the greatest number of votes will be considered the frequency selected by our stockholders.

 

As an advisory vote, the vote on this proposal is non-binding, and the final decision with respect to the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation remains with the Board of Directors. Because we highly value the opinions of our stockholders, however, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of this vote in considering the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.

 

If the stockholder proposal is properly presented at the meeting, approval of the proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the meeting, in person or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote. Approval of the stockholder proposal would merely serve as a recommendation to the Board to take the necessary steps to implement such proposal.

 

Abstentions will have no effect on the election of directors (Proposal 1). For each of the other proposals, abstentions will be treated as shares present for quorum purposes and entitled to vote, so they will have the same practical effect as votes against the proposal.

 

If your shares are held in street name, in order to ensure your shares are voted in the way you would like, you must provide voting instructions to your record holder by the deadline provided in the materials you receive from your record holder. If you hold your shares in street name and you do not instruct your record holder as to how to vote your shares, your record holder may only vote your shares in its discretion on the adoption of the amendment to FedEx’s Certificate of Incorporation (Proposal 2) and the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 3). Your shares will be treated as broker non-votes on all the other proposals, including the election of directors (Proposal 1).

 

Broker non-votes will be treated as shares present for quorum purposes, but not entitled to vote. Thus, absent voting instructions from you, the record holder of your shares may not vote your shares on the election of directors (Proposal 1), the advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal 4), the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation (Proposal 5) or the adoption of the three stockholder proposals (Proposals 6 through 8). A broker non-vote with respect to these proposals will not affect their outcome.

 

Yes, you are invited to visit the events section of the Investor Relations page of our Web site
(http://ir.fedex.com/events.cfm) at 10:00 a.m. Central time on September 26, 2011, to access the live Webcast of the meeting. An archived copy of the Webcast will be available on our Web site for at least one year. The information on FedEx’s Web site, however, is not incorporated by reference in, and does not form part of, this proxy statement.

 

The following table sets forth the amount of FedEx’s common stock beneficially owned by each director or nominee, each named executive officer included in the Summary Compensation Table, and all directors, nominees and executive officers as a group, as of August 1, 2011. Unless otherwise indicated, beneficial ownership is direct and the person shown has sole voting and investment power.

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Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires directors and certain officers of FedEx and persons who own more than ten percent of FedEx’s common stock to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of beneficial ownership (Form 3) and reports of subsequent changes in their beneficial ownership (Form 4 or Form 5) of FedEx’s common stock. Such directors, officers and greater-than-ten-percent stockholders are required to furnish FedEx with copies of the Section 16(a) reports they file. The Securities and Exchange Commission has established specific due dates for these reports, and FedEx is required to disclose in this proxy statement any late filings or failures to file.

 

Based solely upon a review of the copies of the Section 16(a) reports (and any amendments thereto) furnished to FedEx and written representations from FedEx’s directors and reporting officers that no additional reports were required, FedEx believes that its directors and reporting officers complied with all these filing requirements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011.

 

The following table lists certain persons known by FedEx to own beneficially more than five percent of FedEx’s outstanding shares of common stock as of March 31, 2011.

 

 

 

 

In furtherance of its longstanding goals of providing effective governance of FedEx’s business and affairs for the long-term benefit of stockholders and promoting a culture and reputation of the highest ethics, integrity and reliability, the Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, charters for each of its Board committees and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for directors, officers and employees of FedEx. Each of these documents is available in the corporate governance section of the Investor Relations page of our Web site at http://ir.fedex.com/governance.cfm.

 

The leadership structure of our Board of Directors includes (i) a combined Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, (ii) independent, active and effective directors of equal importance and rights, who all have the same opportunities and responsibilities in providing vigorous oversight of the effectiveness of management policies, and (iii) a presiding director. The Board believes that FedEx has been and continues to be well served by having the company’s founder, Frederick W. Smith, serve as both Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The current Board leadership model, when combined with the composition of the Board, the strong leadership of our independent directors and Board committees and the highly effective corporate governance structures and processes already in place, strikes an appropriate balance between consistent leadership and independent oversight of FedEx’s business and affairs.

 

The Board believes that FedEx’s Corporate Governance Guidelines help ensure that strong and independent directors will continue to play the central oversight role necessary to maintain FedEx’s commitment to the highest quality corporate governance. Pursuant to our governance principles and established practices:

 

 

The Board of Directors’ role in risk oversight at FedEx is consistent with the company’s leadership structure, with management having day-to-day responsibility for assessing and managing the company’s risk exposure and the Board and its committees providing oversight in connection with those efforts, with particular focus on ensuring that FedEx’s risk management practices are adequate and regularly reviewing the most significant risks facing the company. The Board performs its risk oversight role by using several different levels of review. Each Board meeting begins with a strategic overview by the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer that describes the most significant issues, including risks, affecting the company, and also includes business updates from each reporting segment CEO. In addition, at least annually, the Board reviews in detail the business and operations of each of the company’s reporting segments, including the primary risks associated with that segment.

 

The Board reviews the risks associated with the company’s financial forecasts and annual business plan. These risks are identified and managed in connection with the company’s robust enterprise risk management (“ERM”) process. Our ERM process provides the enterprise with a common framework and terminology to ensure consistency in identification, reporting and management of key risks. The ERM process is embedded in our strategic financial planning process, which ensures explicit consideration of risks that affect the underlying assumptions of the strategic plans and provides a platform to facilitate integration of risk information in business decision-making.

 

The Board has delegated to each of its committees responsibility for the oversight of specific risks that fall within the committee’s areas of responsibility. For example:

 

 

In addition, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing with management the guidelines and policies that govern the processes by which the company assesses and manages its exposure to all risk, including our ERM process. The ERM process culminates in an annual presentation to the Audit Committee on the key enterprise risks facing FedEx.

 

The Board of Directors has in place an effective planning process to select successors to the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and other members of executive management. The Nominating & Governance Committee, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, annually reports to the Board on executive management succession planning. The entire Board works with the Nominating & Governance Committee and the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer to evaluate potential successors to the CEO and other members of executive management. Through this process, the Board receives information that includes qualitative evaluations of potential successors to the CEO and other executives. The Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer periodically provides to the Board his recommendations and evaluations of potential successors, along with a review of any development plans recommended for such individuals. Additionally, the Board periodically reviews and revises as necessary the

company’s emergency management succession plan, which details the actions to be taken by specific individuals in the event a member of executive management suddenly dies or becomes incapacitated.

 

The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating & Governance Committees and, with the exception of Frederick W. Smith and J.R. Hyde, III, each of the Board’s current members (James L. Barksdale, John A. Edwardson, Shirley Ann Jackson, Steven R. Loranger, Gary W. Loveman, Susan C. Schwab, Joshua I. Smith, David P. Steiner and Paul S. Walsh), as well as the new director nominees, R. Brad Martin and Joshua Cooper Ramo, are independent and meet the applicable independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (including the additional requirements for Audit Committee members) and the Board’s more stringent standards for determining director independence. Mr. Smith is FedEx’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. When considering the totality of the multiple relationships between FedEx and entities affiliated with Mr. Hyde, the Board concluded that Mr. Hyde is no longer independent. Judith L. Estrin retired as a director immediately before the 2010 annual meeting, and the Board of Directors had previously determined that she was independent.

 

Under the Board’s standards of director independence, which are included in FedEx’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, a director will be considered independent only if the Board affirmatively determines that the director has no direct or indirect material relationship with FedEx, other than as a director. The standards set forth certain categories or types of transactions, relationships or arrangements with FedEx, as follows, each of which (i) is deemed not to be a material relationship with FedEx, and thus (ii) will not, by itself, prevent a director from being considered independent:

 

 

The Board broadly considered all relevant facts and circumstances, including the following immaterial transactions, relationships and arrangements:

 

 

The Board of Directors has determined that at least one member of the Audit Committee, John A. Edwardson, is an audit committee financial expert as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

A director must retire immediately before the annual meeting of FedEx’s stockholders during the calendar year in which he or she attains age 72.

 

In order to encourage significant stock ownership by our directors and senior officers, and to further align their interests with the interests of FedEx’s stockholders, the Board of Directors has established a goal that (i) within three years after joining the Board, each non-management director own FedEx shares valued at three times his or her annual retainer fee, and (ii) within four years after being appointed to his or her position, each member of senior management own FedEx shares valued at the following multiple of his or her annual base salary:

 

 

For purposes of meeting this goal, unvested restricted stock is counted, but unexercised stock options are not. The Board also recommends that each director and senior officer retain shares acquired upon stock option exercises until his or her goal is met. The stock ownership goal is included in FedEx’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. As of August 1, 2011, each director (other than Mr. Steiner, who joined the Board in 2009) and executive officer owned sufficient shares to comply with this goal.

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a policy requiring stockholder approval for any future “poison pill” prior to or within twelve months after adoption of the poison pill. (A poison pill is a device used to deter a hostile takeover. Note that FedEx does not currently have, nor have we ever had, a poison pill.) The policy on poison pills is included in FedEx’s Bylaws and Corporate Governance Guidelines.

 

Non-management Board members meet without management present at regularly scheduled executive sessions in conjunction with each in-person meeting of the Board of Directors. At least once a year, such meetings include only the independent members of the Board. The Chairwoman of the Nominating & Governance Committee presides over meetings of the non-employee and independent directors.

 

Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate directly with any member or committee of the Board of Directors by writing to: FedEx Corporation Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, 942 South Shady Grove Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38120. Please specify to whom your letter should be directed. The Corporate Secretary of FedEx will review all such correspondence and regularly forward to the Board a summary of all such correspondence and copies of all correspondence that, in her opinion, deals with the functions of the Board or its committees or that she otherwise determines requires the attention of any member, group or committee of the Board of Directors. Board members may at any time review a log of all correspondence received by FedEx that is addressed to Board members and request copies of any such correspondence.

 

The Nominating & Governance Committee will consider director nominees proposed by stockholders. To recommend a prospective director candidate for the Nominating & Governance Committee’s consideration, stockholders may submit the candidate’s name, qualifications, including whether the candidate satisfies the requirements set forth in “Proposal 1 — Election of Directors — Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and Skills,” and other relevant biographical information in writing to: FedEx Corporation Nominating & Governance

Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, 942 South Shady Grove Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38120. FedEx’s Bylaws require stockholders to give advance notice of stockholder proposals, including nominations of director candidates. For more information, please see “Additional Information — Stockholder Proposals for 2012 Annual Meeting.”

 

The Board is responsible for recommending director candidates for election by the stockholders and for electing directors to fill vacancies or newly created directorships. The Board has delegated the screening and evaluation process for director candidates to the Nominating & Governance Committee, which identifies, evaluates and recruits highly qualified director candidates and recommends them to the Board. The Nominating & Governance Committee considers potential candidates for director, who may come to the attention of the Nominating & Governance Committee through current directors, management, professional search firms, stockholders or other persons. The Nominating & Governance Committee has engaged a third-party executive search firm to assist in identifying potential board candidates. The Nominating & Governance Committee considers and evaluates a director candidate recommended by a stockholder in the same manner as a nominee recommended by a Board member, management, search firm or other sources.

 

If the Nominating & Governance Committee determines that an additional or replacement director is necessary or advisable, the Nominating & Governance Committee may take such measures that it considers appropriate in connection with its evaluation of a potential director candidate, including interviewing the candidate, engaging an outside firm to gather additional information and making inquiries of persons with knowledge of the candidate’s qualifications and character. In its evaluation of potential director candidates, including the members of the Board of Directors eligible for reelection, the Nominating & Governance Committee considers the current size, composition and needs of the Board of Directors and each of its committees.

 

FedEx’s Bylaws require that we use a majority-voting standard in uncontested director elections and contain a resignation requirement for directors who fail to receive the required majority vote. The Bylaws also prohibit the Board from changing back to a plurality-voting standard without the approval of our stockholders. Under the majority-voting standard, a director nominee must receive more votes cast “for” than “against” his or her election in order to be elected to the Board. In accordance with the majority-voting standard and resignation requirement, each director who is standing for reelection at the annual meeting has tendered an irrevocable resignation from the Board of Directors that will take effect if (i) the director does not receive more votes cast “for” than “against” his or her election at the annual meeting, and (ii) the Board accepts the resignation. FedEx’s Bylaws require the Board of Directors, within 90 days after certification of the election results, to accept the director’s resignation unless there is a compelling reason not to do so and to promptly disclose its decision (including, if applicable, the reasons for rejecting the resignation) in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a Policy on Review and Preapproval of Related Person Transactions, which is included in FedEx’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. The policy requires that all proposed related person transactions (as defined in the policy) and all proposed material changes to existing related person transactions be reviewed and preapproved by the Nominating & Governance Committee. To the extent the related person (as defined in the policy) is a director or immediate family member of a director, the transaction or change must also be reviewed and preapproved by the full Board. The policy provides that a related person transaction or a material change to an existing related person transaction may not be preapproved if it would:

 

 

The policy requires the Nominating & Governance Committee to annually (i) review each existing related person transaction that has a remaining term of at least one year or remaining payments of at least $120,000, and (ii) determine, based upon all material facts and circumstances and taking into consideration our contractual obligations, whether it is in the best interests of FedEx and our stockholders to continue, modify or terminate the transaction or relationship.

 

In accordance with the policy described above, the Nominating & Governance Committee has reviewed the following related person transactions and determined that they remain in the best interests of FedEx and our stockholders:

 

 

During fiscal 2011, the Board of Directors held six regular meetings and two special meetings. Each director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and any committees on which he or she served.

 

The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Information Technology Oversight Committee and Nominating & Governance Committee. Each committee’s written charter, as adopted by the Board of Directors, is available on the FedEx Web site at http://ir.fedex.com/com_charters.cfm. Committee memberships are as follows:

 

 

 

The Board of Directors has approved reconstituting the committees so that, immediately following the annual meeting, if all of the director nominees are elected, committee memberships will be as follows:

 

 

 

The Audit Committee, which held ten meetings during fiscal 2011, performs the following functions:

 

 

The Compensation Committee, which held six meetings during fiscal 2011, performs the following functions:

 

 

The Information Technology Oversight Committee, which held six meetings during fiscal 2011, performs the following functions:

 

 

The Nominating & Governance Committee, which held six meetings during fiscal 2011, performs the following functions:

 

 

In addition, as discussed previously, each Board committee has responsibility for the oversight of specific risks that fall within the committee’s areas of responsibility, and the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing with management the guidelines and policies that govern the processes by which the company assesses and manages its exposure to all risk, including our ERM process.

 

FedEx expects all Board members to attend annual meetings of stockholders. Each member of the Board of Directors attended the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

All of FedEx’s directors are elected at each annual meeting of stockholders and hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The Board of Directors currently consists of eleven members. J.R. Hyde, III is retiring as a director immediately before this annual meeting and is not standing for reelection. The Board proposes that each of the other current directors be reelected to the Board. In addition, the Board of Directors has nominated R. Brad Martin and Joshua Cooper Ramo for election as directors. The third-party executive search firm engaged by the Nominating & Governance Committee provided assistance in identifying Messrs. Martin and Ramo as potential Board candidates. Frederick W. Smith, FedEx’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, and the members of the Nominating & Governance Committee recommended Messrs. Martin and Ramo as nominees for election at the annual meeting.

 

Effective upon the retirement of Mr. Hyde and the election of Messrs. Martin and Ramo, the size of the Board will be increased to twelve members. Each of the nominees elected at this annual meeting will hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2012 and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

 

Each nominee has consented to being named in this proxy statement and has agreed to serve if elected. If a nominee is unable to stand for election, the Board of Directors may either reduce the number of directors to be elected or select a substitute nominee. If a substitute nominee is selected, the proxy holders may vote your shares for the substitute nominee.

 

Under FedEx’s majority-voting standard, each of the twelve director nominees must receive more votes cast “for” than “against” his or her election in order to be elected to the Board. For more information, please see “Corporate Governance Matters — Majority-Voting Standard for Director Elections.”

 

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE TWELVE NOMINEES.

 

Set forth below, with respect to each nominee, is the following information:

 

 

Frederick W. Smith, 67, was first elected as a director in 1971. He is the company’s founder and has been Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx since January 1998 and Chairman of FedEx Express since 1975. He was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Express from 1983 to January 1998, Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Express from 1977 to January 1998, and President of FedEx Express from 1971 to 1975.

James L. Barksdale, 68, was first elected as a director in 1999. He is Chairman and President of Barksdale Management Corporation, an investment management company, and Managing Partner of The Barksdale Group, a venture capital firm, positions he has held since April 1999. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Netscape Communications Corporation, a provider of software, services and Web site resources to Internet users, from January 1995 to March 1999. He held various senior management positions at FedEx Express from 1979 to 1992, including Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and was a director of FedEx Express from 1983 to 1991. He is a director of Time Warner Inc. He was previously a director of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

 

John A. Edwardson, 62, was first elected as a director in 2003. He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CDW LLC, a provider of technology products and services, a position he has held since January 2001. He was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Burns International Services Corporation, a provider of security services, from 1999 to 2000. He was President and Chief Operating Officer of UAL Corporation (the parent company of United Air Lines, Inc.), an airline, from 1995 to 1998. He is a director of CDW LLC, which was a public company until October 2007.

 

Shirley Ann Jackson, 65, was first elected as a director in 1999. She is President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), a technological research university, a position she has held since July 1999. She was Chairman of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from July 1995 through June 1999 and served as a Commissioner of the NRC from May 1995 through June 1999. She has been a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science & Technology (PCAST) since 2009 and is a trustee of M.I.T. (member of the M.I.T. Corporation). She is a member of the International Security Advisory Board to the United States Secretary of State (since July 2011). She is a director of International Business Machines Corporation, Marathon Oil Corporation, Medtronic, Inc. and Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated. She was previously a director of NYSE Euronext and United States Steel Corporation.

 

Steven R. Loranger, 59, was first elected as a director in 2006. He is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ITT Corporation, a diversified high-technology engineering and manufacturing company; he has held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer since June 2004 and Chairman since December 2004. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Textron, Inc., a global aircraft, industrial and finance company, from 2002 to 2004. He held various executive positions at Honeywell International Inc. and its predecessor, AlliedSignal, Inc., a technology and manufacturing company, from 1981 to 2002, including President and Chief Executive Officer of its Engines, Systems and Services businesses. He is a director of ITT Corporation.

 

Gary W. Loveman, 51, was first elected as a director in 2007. He is Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (formerly Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.), a provider of branded gaming entertainment; he has held the position of President since April 2001, Chief Executive Officer since January 2003, and Chairman of the Board since January 2005. He held various other executive positions at Caesars Entertainment Corporation from May 1998 to April 2001. He was Associate Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration from 1994 to 1998. He is a director of Caesars Entertainment Corporation and Coach, Inc.

 

R. Brad Martin, 59, is a director nominee for the first time this year. He is the Chairman of RBM Venture Company, a family investment company, a position he has held since 2007. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saks Incorporated from 1989 to January 2006 and remained Chairman until May 2007, when he retired. He is a director of First Horizon National Corporation, lululemon athletica inc. and Dillard’s, Inc. He was previously a director of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (formerly Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.), Gaylord Entertainment Company and Ruby Tuesday, Inc.

 

Joshua Cooper Ramo, 42, is a director nominee for the first time this year. He has served as Managing Director of Kissinger Associates, Inc., a strategic advisory firm, since 2006. Prior to joining Kissinger Associates, he was Managing Partner of JL Thornton & Co., LLC, a consulting firm. Before that he worked as a journalist, and served as Senior Editor, Foreign Editor and then Assistant Managing Editor of TIME Magazine from 1995 to 2003. He is a director of Starbucks Corporation.

 

Susan C. Schwab, 56, was first elected as a director in 2009. She is a Professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, a position she has held since January 2009. She has also served as a strategic advisor to Mayer Brown LLP, a law firm, since March 2010. She served as United States Trade Representative from June 2006 to January 2009 and as Deputy United States Trade Representative from October 2005 to June 2006. She was Vice Chancellor of the University System of Maryland and President and Chief Executive Officer of the University System of Maryland Foundation from January 2004 to October 2005. She was Dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy from August 1995 to August 2003. She was Director of Corporate Business Development of Motorola, Inc., an electronics manufacturer, from July 1993 to August 1995. She was Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the United States and Foreign Commercial Service from March 1989 to May 1993. She is a director of Caterpillar Inc. and The Boeing Company. She was previously a director of The Adams Express Company, Calpine Corporation and Petroleum & Resources Corporation (prior to her service as Deputy United States Trade Representative).

 

Joshua I. Smith, 70, was first elected as a director in 1989. He is Chairman and Managing Partner of Coaching Group, LLC, a management consulting firm, a position he has held since June 1998. He was Vice Chairman and President of iGate, Inc., a broadband networking company, from June 2000 to June 2001. He is a director of The Allstate Corporation, Caterpillar Inc. and Comprehensive Care Corporation. He was previously a director of CardioComm Solutions, Inc.

 

David P. Steiner, 51, was first elected as a director in 2009. He is Chief Executive Officer of Waste Management, Inc., a provider of integrated waste management services, a position he has held since March 2004. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Waste Management, Inc. from April 2003 to March 2004, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Waste Management, Inc. from July 2001 to April 2003, and Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Waste Management, Inc. from November 2000 to July 2001. He was a partner at Phelps Dunbar L.L.P., a law firm, from 1990 to November 2000. He is a director of TE Connectivity Ltd. (formerly Tyco Electronics Ltd.) and Waste Management, Inc.

 

Paul S. Walsh, 56, was first elected as a director in 1996. He is Chief Executive Officer of Diageo plc, a beverage company, a position he has held since September 2000. He was Group Chief Operating Officer of Diageo plc from January 2000 to September 2000. He was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Pillsbury Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Diageo plc, from April 1996 to January 2000, and Chief Executive Officer of The Pillsbury Company from January 1992 to April 1996. He is a director of Diageo plc and Unilever PLC. He was previously a director of Centrica plc.

 

Each director nominee possesses the following experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, in addition to those reflected above, as these are required of all candidates nominated for election or reelection to the Board of Directors:

 

 

 

In addition, the Board believes that it is desirable that the following experience, qualifications, attributes and skills be possessed by one or more of FedEx’s Board members because of their particular relevance to the company’s business and structure, and these were all considered by the Board in connection with this year’s director nomination process:

 

Transportation Industry Experience: With the exception of the two new nominees, each nominee possesses transportation industry experience by virtue of his or her service on the FedEx Board of Directors. We regard this tenure as a positive attribute, as it greatly increases the director’s understanding of the company’s operations and its management. Each of the below nominees has extensive additional transportation industry experience and knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

International Experience: We continue to position our company to facilitate and capitalize on increasing globalization and the resulting unprecedented expansion of customer access to goods, services and information. This highlights the importance of having directors, such as each of the below nominees, who have specific experience with international trade and international markets.

 

 

 

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Financial Expertise: We believe that an understanding of finance and financial reporting and internal auditing processes is beneficial for our directors, given our use of financial targets as measures of our success and the importance of accurate financial reporting and robust internal auditing. Each nominee has a considerable degree of financial literacy, and each of the below nominees has an extensive background in finance.

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Marketing Expertise: FedEx is one of the most widely recognized brands in the world, and we place special emphasis on promoting and protecting the FedEx brand, one of our most important assets. Accordingly, we benefit greatly from having directors, such as each of the below nominees, who have substantial expertise and experience in marketing.

 

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Technological Expertise: We rely heavily on technology to operate our transportation and business networks. Our ability to attract and retain customers and to compete effectively depends in part upon the sophistication and reliability of our technology network. Thus, having directors with technological expertise is

important to us, and each of the below nominees has a thorough understanding of the applications of technology by virtue of his or her background and experiences.

 

 

Energy Expertise: We are committed to protecting the environment, and we have many initiatives underway to reduce our energy use and minimize our impact on the environment. Each of the below nominees has a significant amount of energy expertise, which is helpful as we implement these important initiatives.

 

 

Government Experience: Our businesses are heavily regulated and are directly affected by governmental actions, so our directors with government experience provide a useful perspective as we work constructively with governments around the world. While each of our director nominees has significant experience in working with government at various levels, each of the below nominees has ample experience in government service.

 

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Leadership Experience: As noted above, experience at the policy-making level is one of the minimum qualifications for election to the Board, and each nominee has this experience — Ambassador Schwab in government, Dr. Jackson in education and government, and the rest of the nominees in business, most as Chief Executive Officers (as noted below). The Board believes that CEOs, in particular, make excellent directors because they have the necessary experience and confidence to capably advise our executive management team on the wide range of issues that impact our business. Collectively, our directors have over 300 years of senior leadership experience, over 100 years of experience serving as CEOs, and over 85 years of experience serving as the chairpersons of public company boards of directors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversity: The Board is committed to diversity and inclusion and is always looking for highly qualified candidates, including women (such as Dr. Jackson and Ambassador Schwab) and minorities (such as Dr. Jackson and Mr. J. Smith), who meet our criteria. The Board seeks, and believes it has found in this group of nominees, a diverse blend of experience and perspectives, institutional knowledge and personal chemistry, and directors who will provide sound and prudent guidance with respect to all of FedEx’s operations and interests.

 

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Based on its review and discussions with management, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board approved, that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and in FedEx’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011.

 

Compensation Committee Members

Steven R. Loranger – Chairman
Shirley Ann Jackson
Susan C. Schwab
Paul S. Walsh

 

 

In this section we discuss and analyze the compensation of our principal executive and financial officers and our three other most highly compensated executive officers (the “named executive officers”) for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011. For additional information regarding compensation of the named executive officers, see “— Summary Compensation Table” and other compensation-related tables and disclosure below.

 

Executive Summary

 

Fiscal 2011 was a turnaround year for FedEx as an improving economy and strong customer demand increased volumes and yields across all transportation segments. We are investing for the future, strengthening our networks, improving on our already high levels of service, growing our international business and continuing to invest in critical, long-term projects as part of our global strategy to position the company for stronger growth.

 

At the same time, we have not yet returned to pre-recession levels of profitability. Consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy and reflecting FedEx’s financial performance during fiscal 2011, we made partial payouts under our annual incentive compensation (“AIC”) program to all participants. In addition, effective January 1, 2011, we fully restored 401(k) company-matching contributions. Because our long-term incentive compensation (“LTI”) program is tied to financial performance over a three-year period, there were no LTI payouts for fiscal 2011 to any participant, including the named executive officers, as we fell short of the earnings per share (“EPS”) goals required for payout.

The following table details key compensation highlights of the last five fiscal years, including actions taken in 2009 in response to the effect of the unprecedented global recession on our financial performance.

 

Compensation Highlights
FY2011
AIC plan paid below target AIC payouts at target require above-plan performance No FY09-FY11 LTI plan payout 401(k) match fully reinstated
FY2010
AIC plan paid below target AIC payouts at target require above-plan performance No FY08-FY10 LTI plan payout Annual base salary increases reinstated 401(k) match partially reinstated
FY2009
No AIC plan payout No FY07-FY09 LTI plan payout Permanent salary reductions (including 20% reduction for CEO) Annual base salary increases suspended 401(k) match suspended
FY2008
AIC plan paid below target FY06-FY08 LTI plan paid slightly above target
FY2007
AIC plan paid approximately at target FY05-FY07 LTI plan paid at maximum

 

Review of Restricted Stock Program. The key components of our executive compensation program have remained substantially the same for many years, and we believe the program has been an important factor in our success. We continue, however, to closely review and, as appropriate, modify the program to ensure that it remains aligned with the best interests of our shareowners. During fiscal 2011, the Compensation Committee again reviewed our restricted stock program and, for all of the following reasons, determined that it continues to be appropriate for FedEx.

 

FedEx’s restricted stock program has been in place for over 20 years and has encouraged FedEx executives to own and retain company stock. By facilitating the ownership of FedEx shares by our executives, we strengthen the alignment of their interests with those of our investors. When granting restricted stock, FedEx first determines the total target value of the award and then delivers that value in two components: restricted shares and cash payment of taxes due. Therefore, the total target value of the award is the same as it would be if there were no tax payments. In particular, because the amount of the tax payment is included in the calculation of the target value of the restricted stock award, the officers receive fewer shares in each award than they would in the absence of the tax payment: fewer by an amount equal in value to the tax payment.

 

This methodology prevents the need for an officer to make a disposition of FedEx stock to cover the tax consequences of a restricted stock award and dilute his or her interest in FedEx. Conversely, absent the tax payment, the number of shares received in each award would be larger by an amount equal in value to the forgone tax payment, thereby having a dilutive effect on our shareowners’ equity interest in FedEx. While SEC disclosure rules require that these payments be included with tax reimbursement payments and reported as “other compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table, we do not believe these payments are “tax gross-ups” in the traditional sense, since their value is fully reflected in the number of shares ultimately

delivered to recipients. The following chart illustrates this principle, using the target value for the fiscal year 2011 restricted stock awards granted to FedEx Corporation executive vice presidents (as in previous years, Frederick W. Smith, FedEx’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, did not receive a restricted stock award in fiscal 2011):

 

 

Not only is the value to the officer, as well as the cost to the company, generally the same as it would be otherwise, but this practice uses fewer shares of stock to arrive at the same benefit and has proved extremely successful in retaining executives and enabling them to retain their shares. In sum, we strongly believe that our restricted stock program is effectively designed and works well in alignment with the best interests of our shareowners.

 

Philosophy. FedEx is consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers and respected brands. Maintaining this reputation and continuing to position FedEx for future success requires high caliber talent to protect and grow the company in support of our mission of producing superior financial returns for our shareowners. We design our executive compensation program to provide a competitive and internally equitable compensation and benefits package that reflects individual and company performance, job complexity, and strategic value of the position while ensuring long-term retention and motivation.

 

Each of the named executive officers is a longstanding member of our management, and our Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Frederick W. Smith, founded the company and pioneered the express transportation industry 40 years ago. As a result, our named executive officers are especially knowledgeable about our business and our industry and thus particularly valuable to the company and our shareowners.

 

As with tenure, position and level of responsibility are important factors in the compensation of any FedEx employee, including our named executive officers. There are internal salary ranges for each level, and annual target bonus percentages, long-term bonus amounts, and the number of options and restricted shares awarded are all closely tied to management level and responsibilities. For instance, all FedEx Corporation executive vice presidents have the same salary range and annual target bonus percentages and receive the same long-term bonus and the same number of options and restricted shares in the annual grant.

Our philosophy is to (i) closely align the compensation paid to our executives with the performance of the company on both a short-term and long-term basis, and (ii) set performance goals that do not promote excessive risk while supporting the company’s core long-term financial goals of:

 

 

Our executive compensation is, in large measure, highly variable and directly linked to the above goals and the performance of the FedEx stock price over time.

 

Compensation Objectives and Design-Related Features

 

We design our executive compensation program to further FedEx’s mission of producing superior financial returns for our shareowners by pursuing the following objectives:

 

 

Commitment to Retain and Attract. FedEx is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s most admired and respected companies, and it is our people — our greatest asset — that have earned FedEx its strong reputation. Because FedEx operates a global enterprise in a highly challenging business environment, we compete for talented management with some of the largest companies in the world — in our industry and in others. Our global recognition and reputation for excellence in management and leadership make our people attractive targets for other companies, and our key employees are aggressively recruited. To prevent loss of our managerial talent, we seek to provide an overall compensation program that competes well against all types of companies and continues to retain and attract outstanding people to conduct our business. Each element of compensation is intended to fulfill this important obligation.

Market Referencing. Because retention is so imperative and tenure and management level are determinative factors, we use external survey data solely as a market reference point. Thus, the target compensation levels of our named executive officers are not designed to correspond to a specific percentile of compensation in those surveys. Instead, our analysis considers multiple market reference points for the analyzed positions, rather than referring to a specific percentile.

 

For the fiscal 2011 executive compensation review, we considered survey data published by two major consulting firms engaged by the company: Towers Watson and Aon Hewitt. Each consulting firm provided target compensation data for general industry companies (excluding financial services companies) in its respective database with annual revenues between $20 billion and $70 billion. A list of these companies is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix A. In past years, our reference group comprised the same type of companies with annual revenues in excess of $10 billion. For fiscal 2011, we narrowed the group to those with revenues between $20 billion and $70 billion so that the median revenues of the group would more closely align with FedEx’s annual revenues ($39.3 billion in fiscal 2011).

 

General industry is the appropriate comparison category because our executives are recruited by and from businesses outside FedEx’s industry peer group. Using a robust data sample (126 companies for fiscal 2011) mitigates the impact of outliers, year-over-year volatility of compensation levels and the risk of selection bias and increases the likelihood of comparing with companies with executive officer positions similar to ours. Because the annual revenues of these companies vary significantly, each consulting firm used regression analysis to allow for the inclusion of data from a large number of both larger and smaller companies. The data results provided by each firm were then averaged to arrive at blended market compensation data for general industry executives.

 

When we evaluate the elements of compensation of our executive officers in light of the referenced survey data, we group the elements into two categories:

 

 

The TDC formula is illustrated below:

 

 

 

* Includes related tax reimbursement payments.

 

Other elements of compensation of named executive officers (such as perquisites and retirement benefits) are not included in our TDC formula, consistent with our referenced survey information. Accordingly, these other elements are not referenced against survey data, and decisions as to these other elements do not influence decisions as to the elements of compensation that are included in the TDC formula. These other elements of compensation, however, are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee.

While we may reference our target executive compensation levels against the survey group of companies, we do not compare our AIC and LTI financial performance goals against these companies or any other group of companies. Rather, as discussed below, our AIC and LTI financial performance goals are based upon our internal business objectives — which, when set each year, represent aggressive but reasonably achievable goals. Accordingly, the relationship between our financial performance and the financial performance of the survey companies does not necessarily affect the relationship between our executive compensation and the executive compensation of that group in a given year.

 

Pay for Performance. Our executive compensation program is intended not only to retain and attract highly qualified and effective managers, but also to motivate them to substantially contribute to FedEx’s future success for the long-term benefit of shareowners and appropriately reward them for doing so. Accordingly, we believe that there should be a strong relationship between pay and corporate performance (both financial results and stock price), and our executive compensation program reflects this belief. In particular, AIC payments, LTI payments and stock options represent a significant portion of our executive compensation program, as shown by the chart below, and this variable compensation is “at risk” and directly dependent upon the achievement of pre-established corporate goals and stock price appreciation:

 

 

The following chart illustrates for each named executive officer the allocation of fiscal 2011 target TDC between base salary and incentive and equity-oriented compensation elements (restricted stock value includes the related tax reimbursement payment):

 

 

We believe that long-term performance is the most important measure of our success, as we manage FedEx’s operations and business for the long-term benefit of our shareowners. Accordingly, not only is our executive compensation program weighted towards variable, at-risk pay components, but we emphasize incentives that are dependent upon long-term corporate performance and stock price appreciation. These long-term incentives include

LTI cash compensation and equity awards (stock options and restricted stock), which comprise a significant portion of an executive officer’s total compensation. These incentives are designed to motivate and reward our executive officers for achieving long-term corporate financial performance goals and maximizing long-term shareowner value.

 

The following chart illustrates for each named executive officer the allocation of fiscal 2011 target TDC between long-term incentives — LTI, stock options and restricted stock, including the related tax reimbursement payment — and short-term components — base salary and AIC:

 

 

We include target AIC and LTI payouts (discounted to present value to be consistent with the valuation methodology used in the survey data) in the TCC and TDC formula, so the actual compensation paid out in a given year may vary widely from target levels because compensation earned under the AIC and LTI programs is variable and commensurate with the level of achievement of pre-established financial performance goals. When we achieve superior results, we reward our executives accordingly under the terms of these programs. Conversely, when we fall short of our business objectives, payments under these variable programs decrease correspondingly. As an example, as shown by the chart below, the actual fiscal 2011 TDC of our named executive officers was below target levels because our financial performance for the past three years fell short of our pre-established goals.

 

 

 

 

Align Management and Shareowner Interests. We award stock options and restricted stock to create and maintain a long-term economic stake in the company for the officers, thereby aligning their interests with the interests of our shareowners.

 

In addition, as discussed above, payout under our LTI program is dependent upon achievement of an aggregate EPS goal for a three-fiscal-year period. EPS was selected as the financial measure for the LTI plan because growth in our EPS strongly correlates to long-term stock price appreciation.

 

The following graph illustrates the relationship between FedEx’s EPS growth and stock price appreciation (based on the fiscal year-end stock price and adjusted for stock splits) from 1978 to 2011:

 

 

In order to encourage significant stock ownership by FedEx’s senior management, including the named executive officers, and to further align their interests with the interests of our shareowners, the Board of Directors has adopted a stock ownership goal for senior officers, which is included in FedEx’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. With respect to our executive officers, the goal is that within four years after being appointed to his or her position, each officer own FedEx shares valued at the following multiple of his or her annual base salary:

 

 

For purposes of meeting this goal, unvested restricted stock is counted, but unexercised stock options are not. Until the ownership goal is met, the officer is encouraged to retain (but is not required to do so) “net profit shares” resulting from the exercise of stock options. Net profit shares are the shares remaining after payment of the option exercise price and taxes owed upon the exercise of options. As of August 1, 2011, each executive officer exceeded the stock ownership goal.

In addition, we have adopted comprehensive and detailed policies (the FedEx Securities Manual) that regulate trading by our insiders, including the named executive officers and Board members. The Securities Manual includes information regarding quiet periods and explains when transactions in FedEx stock are permitted. The Securities Manual also sets forth certain types of transactions that are restricted. Specifically, publicly traded (or exchange-traded) options, such as puts, calls and other derivative securities, and short sales, including “sales against the box,” are strictly prohibited. The Securities Manual also prohibits margin accounts and pledges and hedging or monetization transactions; provided, however, that our General Counsel may grant an exception to the prohibition against holding FedEx securities in a margin account or pledging FedEx securities on a case-by-case basis for those that clearly demonstrate the financial capacity to repay the loan without resort to the pledged securities. Based upon this criterion, our General Counsel has granted such an exception with respect to the shares that are disclosed in this proxy statement as having been pledged as security by Messrs. F.W. Smith and Hyde. See “Stock Ownership — Directors and Executive Officers.” These shares represent less than 2% of FedEx’s outstanding common stock and therefore do not present any appreciable risk for investors or the company. No other FedEx executive officer or Board member currently holds FedEx securities that are pledged pursuant to a margin account or otherwise or pursuant to a hedging arrangement.

 

Role of the Compensation Committee, its Compensation Consultant and the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Our Board of Directors is responsible for the compensation of our executive management. The purpose of the Board’s Compensation Committee, which is composed solely of independent directors, is to help discharge this responsibility by, among other things:

 

 

In furtherance of the Compensation Committee’s responsibility, the Committee has engaged Steven Hall & Partners (the “consultant”) to assist the Committee in evaluating FedEx’s executive compensation, including during fiscal 2011. In connection with this engagement, the consultant reports directly and exclusively to the

Committee. The consultant participates in Committee meetings, reviews Committee materials and provides advice to the Committee upon its request. For example, the consultant updates the Committee on trends and issues in executive compensation and comments on the competitiveness and reasonableness of FedEx’s executive compensation program (occurs in September). The consultant assists the Committee in the development and review of FedEx’s AIC and LTI programs, including commenting on performance measures and the goal-setting process (occurs in March and June). The consultant reviews and provides advice to the Committee for its consideration in reviewing compensation-related proxy statement disclosure, including this Compensation Discussion and Analysis (occurs in June and July), and on any new equity compensation plans or plan amendments proposed for adoption.

 

Other than services provided to the Compensation Committee, Steven Hall & Partners does not perform any services for FedEx. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee has determined the firm to be independent from the company. Compensation Committee pre-approval is required for any services to be provided to the company by the Committee’s independent compensation consultant. This ensures that the consultant maintains the highest level of independence from the company, in both appearance and fact.

 

The Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, who attends most meetings of the Compensation Committee, assists the Committee in determining the compensation of all other executive officers by, among other things:

 

 

The other executive officers do not have a role in determining their own compensation, other than discussing their annual individual performance objectives and results achieved with the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

Compensation Elements and Fiscal 2011 Amounts

 

Base Salary. Our primary objective with respect to the base salary levels of our executive officers is to provide sufficient fixed cash income to retain and attract these highly marketable executives in a competitive market for executive talent. The base salaries of our executive officers are reviewed and adjusted (if appropriate) at least annually to reflect, among other things, economic conditions, base salaries for comparable positions from the executive compensation survey data discussed above, the tenure of the officers, and the base salaries of the officers relative to one another, as well as the internal salary ranges for the officer’s level.

 

Effective July 2010, each named executive officer received an annual merit increase of 2.0% of base salary. Effective July 2011, Mr. Smith received an annual merit increase of 2.5% of base salary, and the other named executive officers received an annual merit increase of 3.5% of base salary. As a result, the annual base salaries of our named executive officers are currently as follows:

 

Cash Payments Under Annual Incentive Compensation Program. The primary objective of our AIC program is to motivate our people to achieve our annual financial goals and other business objectives and reward them accordingly. The program provides an annual cash bonus opportunity to our employees, including the named executive officers, at the conclusion of each fiscal year based upon the achievement of AIC objectives for company and individual performance established at the beginning of the year, as illustrated below:

 

 

Target AIC payouts are established as a percentage of the executive officer’s base salary (as of the end of the plan year). Payouts above target levels are based exclusively upon the company’s performance, rather than achievement of individual objectives; accordingly, the executive officer receives above-target payouts only if the company exceeds the AIC target objective for annual financial performance. The maximum AIC payout represents three times the portion of the target payout that is based upon target annual financial performance (plus the portion of the target payout that is based upon the achievement of individual performance objectives).

 

As an example of our commitment to compete collectively and manage collaboratively, the AIC payout for all named executive officers, including Mr. Bronczek, the president and chief executive officer of FedEx Express, is tied to the performance of FedEx as a whole. The company performance factor is a pre-established multiplier that corresponds, on a sliding scale, to the percentage achievement of the AIC target objective for company annual financial performance. The multiplier matrix for the company performance factor is designed so that if the AIC annual financial performance threshold is achieved but is less than target, the multiplier decreases on a sliding scale based on the percentage achievement of the AIC target objective. On the other hand, if the company exceeds the AIC target objective, the multiplier increases on a sliding scale (up to the maximum, as described above) based on the percentage that the target objective is exceeded up to the AIC annual financial performance maximum.

 

AIC objectives for company annual financial performance are typically based upon our business plan for the fiscal year, which is reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors and which reflects, among other things, the risks and opportunities identified in connection with our enterprise risk management process. Consistent with our long-term focus and in order to discourage unnecessary and excessive risk-taking, we measure performance against our business plan, rather than a stipulated growth rate or an average of growth rates from prior years, to account for short-term economic and competitive conditions and anticipated strategic investments that may have adverse short-term profit implications. We address year-over-year improvement targets through our LTI plans, as discussed below.

 

Ordinarily our business plan objective for the financial performance measure — for the fiscal 2011 AIC program, consolidated pre-tax income — becomes the target objective for company performance under our AIC program. For the fiscal 2011 AIC program, however, in order to further motivate management to improve the company’s performance:

 

 

In keeping with our pay-for-performance philosophy, our fiscal 2012 AIC program design seeks to reward employees for their motivation during lean economic times and for improved company performance; accordingly, the consolidated pre-tax income target objective for the company performance factor under the AIC program is lower than the fiscal 2012 business plan objective for pre-tax income. However, the entire AIC payout opportunity relating to individual performance will be contingent upon achievement of pre-tax income objectives under the plan (as well as the achievement of individual performance objectives).

The fiscal 2011 AIC target payouts for the named executive officers, as a percentage of base salary, were as follows:

 

 

The following table illustrates for our named executive officers the fiscal 2011 AIC formulas and total AIC payout opportunities (as a percentage of the target payout described above):

 

Allocation of Goals
(as a percentage of target payout)

 

 

 

 

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Smith’s AIC payout is tied to the achievement of corporate objectives for company financial performance for the fiscal year. Mr. Smith’s minimum AIC payout is zero. His target AIC payout is set as a percentage of his base salary, and his maximum AIC payout is set as a multiple of the target payout. The independent members of the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approve these percentages. The actual AIC payout ranges, on a sliding scale, from the minimum to the maximum based upon the performance of the company against our company financial performance goals.

 

In addition, the independent Board members, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, may adjust this amount upward or downward based on their annual evaluation of Mr. Smith’s performance, including the quality and effectiveness of his leadership and the following corporate performance measures:

 

 

 

None of these factors is given any particular weight in determining whether to adjust Mr. Smith’s bonus amount.

 

Non-CEO Named Executive Officers. The AIC payouts for the other named executive officers are tied to the achievement of (i) corporate objectives for company financial performance for the fiscal year (70% of the target payout), and (ii) individual objectives established at the beginning of the fiscal year for each executive (30% of the target payout). As noted above, under the fiscal 2011 AIC program, a portion of the payout opportunity relating to individual performance was contingent upon achievement of company financial performance objectives under the plan (as well as the achievement of individual performance objectives).

 

The minimum AIC payout is zero. The target AIC payout is set as a percentage of the executive’s base salary, and the maximum AIC payout is set as a multiple of the target payout. The actual AIC payout ranges, on a sliding scale, from the minimum to the maximum based upon the performance of the individual and the company against the objectives.

 

Individual performance objectives for the non-CEO named executive officers vary by management level and by operating segment and include (but are not limited to):

 

 

Individual performance objectives are designed to further the company’s business objectives. Achievement of individual performance objectives is generally within each officer’s control or scope of responsibility, and the objectives are intended to be achieved with an appropriate level of effort and effective leadership by the officer. The achievement level of each non-CEO named executive officer’s individual objectives is based on Mr. Smith’s evaluation at the conclusion of the fiscal year, which is reviewed by the Compensation Committee.

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Fiscal 2011 AIC Performance and Payouts. A portion of the fiscal 2011 AIC payout opportunity relating to individual performance was contingent upon achievement of pre-tax income objectives under the plan (as well as the achievement of individual performance objectives): for the named executive officers, this pre-tax income threshold for the individual performance factor was $2,173 million. The following table presents the pre-tax income threshold (which was the pre-tax income target for the individual performance factor) and target for the company performance factor under our fiscal 2011 AIC program and our actual pre-tax income for fiscal 2011 (in millions):

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Based upon this company performance and each non-CEO named executive officer’s achievement of individual performance objectives, payouts to the named executive officers under the fiscal 2011 AIC program were as follows (compared to the target payout opportunities):

 

 

The independent Board members, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, exercised their discretion (which is described above) to increase the amount of Mr. Smith’s fiscal 2011 AIC payout to $375,000 from $91,592 (the formulaic amount resulting solely from the achievement of company financial performance objectives under the fiscal 2011 AIC program). Their decision was based upon their assessment of the outstanding quality and effectiveness of Mr. Smith’s leadership during fiscal 2011, as reflected in FedEx’s strong financial and stock price performance during the year.

 

Cash Payments Under LTI Program. The primary objective of our LTI program is to motivate management to contribute to our future success and to build long-term shareowner value and reward them accordingly. The program provides a long-term cash payment opportunity to members of management, including the named executive officers, based upon achievement of aggregate EPS goals for the preceding three-fiscal-year period. The LTI plan design provides for payouts that correspond to specific EPS goals established by the Board of Directors. The EPS goals represent total growth in EPS (over a base year) for the three-year term of the LTI plan. The following chart illustrates the relationship between EPS growth and payout:

 

As illustrated by the preceding chart, the LTI program provides for:

 

 

Fiscal 2011 LTI Performance and Payouts. The following table presents the aggregate EPS threshold, target and maximum under our FY2009-FY2011 LTI plan, which was established by the Board of Directors in 2008, and our actual aggregate EPS for the three-year period ended May 31, 2011:

 

 

Based upon this below-threshold performance, there were no payouts to the named executive officers under the FY2009-FY2011 LTI plan — as illustrated by the following table (compared to the threshold, target and maximum payout opportunities):

 

 

LTI Payout Opportunities, Including Modified Base-Year EPS for FY2010-FY2012 LTI Plan. The Board of Directors has established LTI plans for the three-fiscal-year periods 2010 through 2012 and 2011 through 2013, providing cash payment opportunities upon the conclusion of fiscal 2012 and 2013, respectively, if certain EPS goals are achieved with respect to those periods. Traditionally, the base-year number over which the three-year average annual EPS growth rate goals are measured for an LTI plan is the final full-year EPS of the preceding fiscal year. For the FY2010-FY2012 LTI plan, we used an adjusted base-year number ($2.93), rather than any measure of fiscal 2009 performance, in order to address the economic environment and restore the motivating power of the plan. This adjusted base-year number was set so that 12.5% growth from the number would equal the fiscal 2010 business plan EPS goal. For the FY2011-FY2013 LTI plan, we returned to our traditional goal-setting approach by using final fiscal 2010 EPS ($3.76) as the base-year number. The following table presents the aggregate EPS thresholds, targets and maximums under the FY2010-FY2012 and FY2011-FY2013 LTI plans and our progress toward these goals as of May 31, 2011:

 

The following table sets forth the potential threshold (minimum), target and maximum payouts for the named executive officers under these two plans:

 

 

Long-Term Equity Incentives — Stock Options and Restricted Stock. Our primary objective in providing long-term equity incentives to executive officers is to further align their interests with those of our shareowners by facilitating significant ownership of FedEx stock by the officers. This creates a direct link between their compensation and long-term shareowner return.

 

Amount. Stock options and restricted stock are generally granted to executive officers on an annual basis. As discussed above, an officer’s position and level of responsibility are the primary factors that determine the number of options and shares of restricted stock awarded to the officer in the annual grant. For instance, all FedEx Corporation executive vice presidents receive the same number of options and restricted shares in the annual grant.

 

The number of stock options and restricted shares awarded at each management level can vary from year to year. In determining how many options and shares of restricted stock should be awarded at each level, the Compensation Committee may consider:

 

 

Other factors that the Compensation Committee may consider, especially with respect to special grants outside of the annual-grant framework, include the promotion of an officer or the desire to retain a valued executive or recognize a particular officer’s contributions. None of these factors is given any particular weight and the specific factors used may vary among individual executives.

 

Timing. In selecting dates for awarding equity-based compensation, we do not consider, nor have we ever considered, the price of FedEx’s common stock or the timing of the release of material, non-public information about the company. Stock option and restricted stock awards are generally made to executive officers on an annual basis according to a pre-established schedule.

When the Compensation Committee approves a special grant outside of the annual-grant framework, such grants are made at a regularly scheduled meeting and the grant date of the awards is the approval date or the next business day, if the meeting does not fall on a business day. If the grant is made in connection with the promotion of an individual or the election of an officer, the grant date may be the effective date of the individual’s promotion or the officer’s election, if such effective date is after the approval date.

 

Pricing. The exercise price of stock options granted under our equity incentive plans is equal to the fair market value of FedEx’s common stock on the date of grant. Under the terms of our equity incentive plans, the fair market value on the grant date is defined as the average of the high and low trading prices of FedEx’s stock on the New York Stock Exchange on that day. We believe this methodology is the most equitable method for determining the exercise price of our stock option awards given the intra-day price volatility often shown by our stock.

 

Vesting. Stock options and restricted stock granted to executive officers generally vest ratably over four years beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. This four-year vesting period is intended to further encourage the retention of the executive officers, since unvested stock options are forfeited upon termination of the officer’s employment for any reason other than death or permanent disability and unvested restricted stock is forfeited upon termination of the officer’s employment for any reason other than death, permanent disability or retirement.

 

Tax Reimbursement Payments for Restricted Stock Awards. As discussed previously, FedEx pays the taxes resulting from a restricted stock award on behalf of the recipient. This prevents the need for the officer to sell a portion of a stock award to pay the corresponding tax obligation and thus encourages and facilitates FedEx stock ownership by our officers, thereby further aligning their interests with those of our shareowners.

 

Voting and Dividend Rights on Restricted Stock. Holders of restricted shares are entitled to vote and receive any dividends on such shares. The dividend rights are included in the computation of the value of the restricted stock award for purposes of determining the recipient’s target TDC.

 

Fiscal 2011 Awards. On June 7, 2010, the named executive officers were granted stock option and restricted stock awards as follows:

 

 

As in previous years, at the request of Mr. Smith and in light of his significant stock ownership, the Compensation Committee did not award him any restricted stock. Instead, his equity awards were in the form of stock options, which will yield value to him only if the stock price increases from the date of grant.

 

The number of stock options and restricted shares awarded to each named executive officer decreased in fiscal 2011 from the previous year’s annual grant as a result of year-over-year stock price increases, but the overall target value of each year’s grant remained substantially the same for each officer.

 

Perquisites, Tax Reimbursement Payments and Other Annual Compensation. FedEx’s named executive officers receive certain other annual compensation, including:

 

 

 

We provide this other compensation to enhance the competitiveness of our executive compensation program and to increase the productivity (corporate aircraft travel, professional assistance with tax return preparation and financial planning), safety (security services and equipment) and health (annual physical examinations) of our executives so they can focus on producing superior financial returns for our shareowners. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves each of these elements of compensation, and all of the independent directors approve each element as it relates to Mr. Smith. The Committee also reviews and approves FedEx’s policies and procedures regarding perquisites and other personal benefits and tax reimbursement payments, including:

 

 

FedEx’s executive security procedures, which prescribe the level of personal security to be provided to the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, are based on bona fide business-related security concerns and are an integral part of FedEx’s overall risk management and security program. These procedures have been assessed by an independent security consulting firm, and deemed necessary and appropriate for the protection of the officers and their families given the history of direct security threats against FedEx executives and the likelihood of additional threats against the officers. The security services and equipment provided to FedEx executive officers may be viewed as conveying personal benefits to the executives and, as a result, their values must be reported in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

With respect to Mr. Smith, consistent with FedEx’s executive security procedures, the Board of Directors requires him to use FedEx corporate aircraft for all travel, including personal travel. In addition, the FedEx Corporate Security Executive Protection Unit provides certain physical and personal security services for Mr. Smith, including on-site residential security at his primary residence. The Board of Directors believes that Mr. Smith’s personal safety and security are of the utmost importance to FedEx and its shareowners and, therefore, the costs associated with such security are appropriate and necessary business expenses.

 

Post-Employment Compensation. While none of FedEx’s named executive officers has an employment agreement, they are entitled to receive certain payments and benefits upon termination of employment or a change of control of FedEx, including:

 

 

The Compensation Committee approves and recommends Board approval of all plans, agreements and arrangements that provide for these payments and benefits.

 

Risks Arising from Compensation Policies and Practices

 

Management has conducted an in-depth risk assessment of FedEx’s compensation policies and practices and concluded that that they do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the company. The Compensation Committee has reviewed and concurred with management’s conclusion. The risk assessment process included, among other things, a review of (i) all key incentive compensation plans to ensure that they are aligned with our pay-for-performance philosophy and include performance metrics that meet and support corporate goals, and (ii) the overall compensation mix to ensure an appropriate balance between fixed and variable pay components and between short-term and long-term incentives. The objective of the process was to identify any compensation plans and practices that may encourage employees to take unnecessary risks that could threaten the company. No such plans or practices were identified.

 

Tax Deductibility of Compensation

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits the income tax deduction by FedEx for compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the three other highest-paid executive officers (other than the Chief Financial Officer) to $1,000,000 per year, unless the compensation is “qualified performance-based compensation” or qualifies under certain other exceptions.

 

 

We do not require all of our compensation programs to be fully deductible under Section 162(m) because doing so would restrict our discretion and flexibility in designing competitive compensation programs to promote varying corporate goals. We believe that our Board of Directors should be free to make compensation decisions to further and promote the best interests of our shareowners, rather than to qualify for corporate tax deductions. In fiscal 2011, we incurred approximately $2.1 million of additional tax expense as a result of the Section 162(m) deductibility limit for compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the three other highest-paid executive officers (other than Mr. Graf).

 

In this section we provide certain tabular and narrative information regarding the compensation of our principal executive and financial officers and our three other most highly compensated executive officers for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011, and for each of the previous two fiscal years (except as noted).