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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005
Commission file number: 0-1375
FARMER BROS. CO.
(exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 95-0725980
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
20333 South Normandie Avenue, Torrance, California 90502
(address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (310)787-5200
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
registered
Common stock, $1.00 par value NASDAQ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES [X] NO [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to
the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YES [X] NO [ ]
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held
by non-affiliates computed by reference to the closing price at which the
Farmer Bros. Co. common stock was sold on June 30, 2005 was approximately $145
million.
On September 1, 2005 the registrant had 16,075,080 shares outstanding of
its common stock, par value $1.00 per share, which is the registrant's only
class of common stock.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The following documents are incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K:
the definitive proxy statement for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005 that is
expected to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on or
before October 28, 2005.
PART I
Item 1. Business
General: Farmer Bros. Co. (the "Company", "we", "our" or "Farmer Bros.?) is a
manufacturer and distributor of coffee and spices to the institutional food
service segment. The Company was incorporated in California in 1923, and
reincorporated in Delaware in 2004.
Our product line is specifically focused on the needs of our market segment:
restaurants and other institutional food service establishments that prepare
and market meals, including hotels, hospitals, convenience stores and fast
food outlets. Our product line includes roasted coffee, coffee related
products such as coffee filters, sugar and creamers, assorted teas, cocoa,
spices, and soup and beverage bases. Our product line presently includes over
300 items. About 50% of our total sales are roasted coffee products. No
single product other than coffee accounts for more than 10% of our revenue.
Coffee purchasing, roasting and packaging takes place at our Torrance,
California plant, which also serves as the distribution hub for our branches.
Sales are made "off-truck" to our institutional food service customers at
their places of business by our sales representatives who are responsible
for soliciting, selling, collecting from and otherwise maintaining our
customer accounts.
Raw Materials and Supplies: Our primary raw material is green coffee, an
agricultural commodity. Green coffee is mainly grown outside the United States
and can be subject to volatile price fluctuations. Weather, political events,
labor actions and armed conflict in coffee producing nations, and government
actions, including treaties and trade controls between the U.S. and coffee
producing nations, can affect the price of green coffee.
Green coffee prices can also be affected by the actions of producer
organizations. The most prominent of these are the Colombian Coffee
Federation (CCF), the Association of Coffee Producing Countries (ACPC) and the
International Coffee Organization (ICO). These organizations seek to increase
green coffee prices largely by attempting to restrict supplies, thereby
limiting the availability of green coffee to coffee consuming nations.
Other raw materials used in the manufacture of the non-coffee products (?allied
products?) in our product line include a wide variety of spices, including
pepper, chilies, oregano and thyme, as well as cocoa, dehydrated milk products,
salt and sugar. These raw materials are agricultural products and can be
subject to wide cost fluctuations. Such fluctuations, however, historically
have not had a material effect on our operating results.
Trademarks and Patents: We own 72 registered U.S. trademarks, which are
integral to customer identification of our products. It is not possible to
assess the impact of the loss of such identification.
Seasonality: We experience some seasonal influences. The winter months are
generally the best sales months. However, our product line and geographic
diversity provide some sales stability during the warmer months when coffee
consumption ordinarily decreases. Additionally, we usually experience an
increase in sales during the summer months from seasonal businesses located in
vacation areas.
Distribution: Our selling divisions distribute our products to our
institutional food service customers at their places of business by our sales
representatives. Our distribution trucks are replenished from warehouses
located in most large cities in the western United States. We operate our own
long haul trucking fleet in an effort to more effectively control the supply of
products to these warehouses. Inventory levels are maintained at each branch
warehouse consisting of our complete product line and additional safety stocks
to accommodate a modest interruption in supply.
Customers: No single customer represents a significant concentration of
sales. As a result, the loss of one or more of our larger customer accounts is
not likely to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. We
serve a wide variety of customers, from small restaurants and donut shops to
large institutional buyers like restaurant chains, hospitals hotels, contract
food services and convalescent hospitals. Customer contact, our distribution
network and our service quality, are integral to our sales effort.
Competition: We face competition from many sources, including the
institutional food service divisions of multi-national manufacturers of retail
products such as Procter & Gamble (Folgers Coffee), Kraft Foods (Maxwell House
Coffee) and Sara Lee Foods (Superior Coffee), wholesale grocery distributors
such as Sysco and U.S. Food Service and regional institutional coffee roasters
such as Boyd Coffee Company. Management believes we may have some competitive
advantages due to our longevity, strong regional roots and our sales and
service force. We differentiate ourselves from our competitors by the quality
of our products, our distribution network and our customer service. Some of
our competitors do not do their own distribution, however some of our customers
do. Some of our customers are "price" buyers, seeking the low cost provider
with little concern about service; others find great value in the service
programs we provide. We compete well when service and distribution are valued
by our customers, and are less effective when only price matters. Our customer
base is price sensitive and we are often faced with price competition.
Working Capital: We finance our operations internally, and we believe that
working capital from internal sources will be adequate for the coming fiscal
year.
Foreign Operations: We have no material revenues from foreign
operations.
Other: On June 30, 2005 we employed 1,084 employees; 456 were subject to
collective bargaining agreements. Compliance with government regulations
relating to the discharge of materials into the environment has not had a
material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. The
nature of our business does not provide for maintenance of or reliance upon a
sales backlog.
We file reports electronically with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(?SEC?), including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and amendments thereto. The public
may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reading
Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain
information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports,
proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that
file electronically with the SEC. The site address is http://www.sec.gov.
Our Internet website address is http://www.farmerbroscousa.com (the website
address is not intended to function as a hyperlink, and the information
contained in our website is not intended to be part of this filing). We make
available on our website, free of charge, copies of our annual report on Form
10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K including
amendments thereto as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material
electronically or otherwise furnishing it to the SEC. The Company?s Code of
Ethics for its Principal Executive and Principal Financial officers is also
posted on our Internet website.
RISK FACTORS
Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K regarding the
risks, circumstances and financial trends that may affect our future operating
results, financial position and cash flows may be forward-looking statements
within the meaning of federal securities laws. These statements are based on
management's current expectations, assumptions, estimates and observations
about our business and are subject to risks and uncertainties. As a result,
actual results could materially differ from the forward-looking statements
contained herein. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the
use of words like "expects," "plans," "believes," "intends," "will," "assumes"
and other words of similar meaning. These and other similar words can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate solely to historical or current
facts. While we believe our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is
impossible to predict the impact of such factors which could cause actual
results to differ materially from predicted results. We intend these forward-
looking statements to speak only at the time of this report and do not
undertake to update or revise these projections as more information becomes
available. For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor
for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995.
The Company?s business, its future performance and forward-looking statements
are affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates,
general U.S. and non-U.S. economic and political conditions (including the
global economy), competition, interest rate and currency exchange rate
fluctuations, and other events. The following items are representative of the
risks, uncertainties and other conditions that may impact the Company?s
business, future performance and the forward-looking statements that it makes
in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or that it may make in the future. Our
actual results could differ materially from projected results due to some or
all of the factors discussed below.
OUR EFFORTS TO SECURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF QUALITY COFFEES MAY BE UNSUCCESSFUL
AND EXPOSE US TO COMMODITY PRICE RISK.
Maintaining a steady supply of green coffee is essential to keep inventory
levels low and secure sufficient stock to meet customer needs. To help ensure
future supplies, we may purchase our coffee on forward contracts for delivery
as long as six months in the future. In the event of non-performance by the
suppliers, the Company could be exposed to credit and supply risk. Entering
into such future commitments also leaves the Company subject to purchase price
risk. Various techniques are used to hedge these purchases against untoward
price movement. Competitive factors make it difficult for the Company to "pass
through" such price fluctuation to its customers. Therefore, unpredictable
price changes can have an immediate effect on operating results that cannot be
corrected in the short run. To reduce its exposure to the volatile fluctuation
of green coffee costs, Farmer Bros. has, from time to time, entered into
futures contracts to hedge price-to-be-established coffee purchase commitments.
Open contracts associated with these hedging activities are described in Item
7A "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk."
INCREASES IN THE COST OF GREEN COFFEE COULD REDUCE OUR GROSS MARGIN AND PROFIT.
Coffee is mainly grown outside the U.S. and can be subject to volatile price
fluctuations. Weather, real or perceived shortages, labor actions and
political unrest in coffee producing nations, and government actions, including
treaties and trade controls between the U.S. and coffee producing nations, can
affect the price of green coffee. Green coffee prices have been affected in
the past, and may be affected in the future, by the actions of certain
organizations and associations, such as the International Coffee Organization
or the Association of Coffee Producing Countries. These organizations have
historically attempted to establish commodity price controls of green coffee
through agreements that establish export quotas or by restricting coffee
supplies worldwide. These organizations, or others, may succeed in raising
green coffee prices.
In the past, we generally have been able to pass increases in green coffee
costs to our customers. However, there can be no assurance that we will be
successful in passing such fluctuations on to our customers without losses in
sales volume or gross margin in the future. Similarly, rapid sharp decreases
in the cost of green coffee could also force us to lower sales prices before
realizing cost reductions in our green coffee inventory.
OUR INDUSTRY IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND WE MAY NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO COMPETE
EFFECTIVELY.
We primarily compete with other coffee companies, including multi-national
firms with substantially greater financial, marketing and operating resources
than the Company. Large roasters like Folgers (Proctor & Gamble) and Maxwell
House (Kraft) have volumes far in excess of ours, with a business model that is
substantially different from ours. We compete with those firms and others for
a wide variety of customers, from small restaurants and donut shops, to large
institutional buyers like restaurant chains, hospitals, hotels, contract food
services and convalescent hospitals. If we do not succeed in differentiating
ourselves from our competitors or our competitors adopt our strategies, then
our competitive position may be weakened. At Farmer Bros. we differentiate
ourselves from our competitors by the quality of our products, of our
distribution network and our customer service. Some of our competitors do not
do their own distribution, but some of our customers do. Some of our customers
are "price" buyers, seeking the low cost provider with little concern about
service; others find great value in the service programs we provide. We
compete well when service and distribution are valued by our customers, and are
less effective when only price matters.
CHANGES IN CONSUMER PREFERENCES COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
Our continued success depends, in part, upon the demand for coffee. Shifts in
consumer preferences away from a ?standard? cup of coffee could adversely
affect our profitability. Our primary market is restaurants and other food
service establishments. We also provide coffee and related products to
offices. We believe the success of our market segment is dependent upon
personal and business expenditures in restaurants and other food service
businesses. There are many beverages, hot and cold, competing for the same
restaurant dollar. Our restaurant customers report that competition from such
beverages continues to dilute demand for coffee. Consumers who choose soft
drinks, bottled water, and flavored coffees and teas are all reducing the
restaurant dollar formerly spent on a "standard" cup of coffee. Some
restaurants that only sell coffee and flavored coffee products may have
expanded the beverage market somewhat, but these coffee shops have also taken
market share from existing Farmer Bros. customers. Although we have a line of
products that compares favorably with products sold in such "specialty coffee"
stores, most of our customers are restaurants that do not specialize in coffee
drinks.
REDUCTIONS IN DESCRETIONARY SPENDING COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
Our success depends to a significant extent on a number of factors that affect
discretionary consumer spending, including economic conditions, disposable
consumer income and consumer confidence. In a slow economy, businesses and
individuals scale back their discretionary spending on travel and
entertainment, including "dining out." Economic conditions may also cause
businesses to reduce travel and entertainment expenses, and even cause office
coffee benefits to be eliminated. These factors could reduce demand for our
products or impose practical limits on pricing, either of which could adversely
affect our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.
OUR SALES AND DISTRIBUTION NETWORK IS COSTLY TO MAINTAIN.
Our sales and distribution network requires a large investment to maintain and
operate. Costs include the fluctuating cost of gasoline, diesel and oil, the
costs associated with managing, purchasing, maintaining and insuring a fleet of
delivery vehicles, the costs of maintaining distribution warehouses throughout
the country, and the costs of hiring, training and managing our route sales
professionals. Many of these costs are beyond our control, and others are more
in the nature of fixed rather than variable costs. Some competitors use
alternate methods of distribution that eliminate some of the costs associated
with our method of distribution.
WE ARE SELF-INSURED. OUR RESERVES MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO COVER FUTURE
CLAIMS.
We are self-insured for many risks up to significant deductible amounts. The
premiums associated with our insurance have recently increased substantially.
General liability, fire, workers' compensation, directors and officers
liability, life, employee medical, dental and vision and automobile present a
large potential liability. While we accrue for this liability based on
historical experience, future claims may exceed claims we have incurred in the
past. Should a different amount of claims occur compared to what was estimated
or costs of the claims increase or decrease beyond what was anticipated,
reserves recorded may not be sufficient and the accruals may need to be
adjusted accordingly in future periods.
EMPLOYEE STRIKES AND OTHER LABOR-RELATED DISUPTIONS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR
OPERATIONS.
We have union contracts relating to the majority of our workforce in our
California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada markets. Although we believe union
relations have been amicable in the past, there is no assurance that this will
continue in the future. There are potential adverse effects of labor disputes
with our own employees or by others who provide transportation (shipping lines,
truck drivers) or cargo handling (longshoremen), both domestic and foreign, of
our raw materials or other products. These actions could restrict our ability
to obtain, process and/or distribute our products.
WE MAY ENTER INTO NEW BUSINESS VENTURES THAT COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON
OPERATING RESULTS.
From time to time, we evaluate potential business ventures and acquisitions.
Entering into any such transaction entails many risks, any of which could
materially harm our business. There is no assurance that any such venture,
should we decide to enter into one, will accrue the projected returns. It is
possible that such ventures could result in losses or returns that would have a
negative impact on operating results.
OUR ROASTING AND BLENDING METHODS ARE NOT PROPRIETARY, SO COMPETITORS MAY BE
ABLE TO DUPLICATE THEM, WHICH COULD HARM OUR COMPETITIVE POSITION.
We consider our roasting and blending methods essential to the flavor and
richness of our coffee and, therefore, essential to our brand. Because the
Company's roasting methods cannot be patented, we would be unable to prevent
competitors from copying these methods if such methods became known. If our
competitors copy our roasts or blends, the value of our brand may be
diminished, and we may lose customers to our competitors. In addition,
competitors may be able to develop roasting or blending methods that are more
advanced than our production methods, which may also harm our competitive
position.
BECAUSE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF OUR BUSINESS IS BASED IN CALIFORNIA, TEXAS,
COLORADO, ARIZONA AND WASHINGTON, AN INTERRUPTION IN OPERATIONS IN ANY OF THESE
MARKETS WOULD ADVERSELY IMPACT OUR BUSINESS.
Over half of our business is conducted in California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona
and Washington. We expect that these operations will continue to generate a
substantial portion of our revenue. A significant interruption in operations
at our facilities in these markets, whether as a result of an earthquake,
natural disaster, terrorism or other causes, could significantly impair our
ability to operate our business. Our major manufacturing facility and
distribution hub is in Los Angeles County. An interruption to highway
arteries, gas mains or electrical service in this area could restrict our
ability to supply our branches with product and would adversely impact our
business.
OUR OPERATING RESULTS MAY HAVE SIGNIFICANT FLUCTUATIONS FROM QUARTER TO QUARTER
WHICH COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON OUR STOCK PRICE.
From time to time, our operating results likely will fall below investor
expectations. These results are influenced by a number of factors, including:
a. fluctuations in the price of green coffee;
b. competition from existing or new competitors in our industry; and
c. changes in consumer preferences.
Quarterly fluctuations in our operating results as the result of these factors
or for any other reason, could cause our stock price to decline. Accordingly,
we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our historical or future
operating results are not necessarily meaningful, and such comparisons should
not be relied upon as indicators of future performance.
OPERATING LOSSES MAY CONTINUE AND, AS A RESULT, THE PRICE OF OUR STOCK MAY BE
NEGATIVELY AFFECTED.
For the fiscal year just ended, June 30, 2005, we had a net loss of
($5,427,000). We could suffer additional losses in future years and as a
result our stock price could decline.
FUTURE FUNDING DEMANDS UNDER PENSION PLANS FOR CERTAIN UNION EMPLOYEES ARE
UNKNOWN.
We participate in two multi-employer defined benefit plans for certain union
employees. The management, funding status and future viability of these plans
is not known at this time. The nature of the contract with these plans allows
for future funding demands that are outside our control or ability to estimate.
WE RELY ON A SINGLE THIRD PARTY SUPPLIER TO MANAGE OUR INTEGRATED ORACLE SYSTEM
THAT IS INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS AND OPERATION OF OUR BUSINESS.
We rely on WTS, a company affiliated with Oracle, and its employees, in
connection with the hosting of our integrated Management Information System.
This System is essential to our operations and currently includes all
accounting and production software applications. By the end of fiscal 2006,
WTS will also host our Route Sales application software. If WTS were to
experience financial, operational, or quality assurance difficulties, or if
there were any other disruption in our relationship with WTS, we might be
unable to produce financial statements, fill replenishment orders for our
branch warehouses, issue payroll checks, process payments to our vendors or
bill customers. Any of these items could have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
WE ARE DEPENDENT ON ENTERPRISE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (?ERP?) SOFTWARE TO OPERATE
OUT BUSINESS. SHOULD WE FAIL TO OPERATED EFFECTIVELY OR IF WE ENCOUNTER
DIFFICULTIES INTEGRATING SYSTEMS OR SUFFER ILL-TIMED POWER OR COMMUNICATIONS
FAILURES, THE RESULT COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR OPERATIONS.
We rely on complex software and hardware to invoice our customers, produce
customer statements, account for our inventory and manufacturing costs, fill
branch inventory replenishment orders, pay our bills, pay our employees and
produce our financial statements. We have in the past encountered, and in the
future may encounter, software and hardware errors, system design errors and
errors in the operation of our systems. This has resulted in and may in the
future result in a number of adverse consequences, including: users being
disconnected from systems and being unable to perform their job functions,
delays in producing financial statements and other key management system
information.
Reliance on such software also leaves us exposed to harmful software programs
such as viruses that could disrupt our business and damage our network. It is
possible that a security breach or inappropriate use of our network could
expose us to the possibility of system failure or other disruption. A security
breach could jeopardize security of confidential information and thereby expose
the Company to potential legal liability.
THE COMPANY DEPENDS ON THE EXPERTISE OF KEY PERSONNEL. THE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF
ONE OR MORE OF THESE KEY EMPLOYEES COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR
OPERATIONS OR COMPETITIVE POSITION.
Our continued success largely depends on the efforts and abilities of our
executive officers and other key personnel. There is limited management depth
in certain key positions throughout the Company. The unexpected loss of one or
more of these key employees could have a material adverse effect on our
operations and competitive position.
Our former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and sole coffee buyer, Roy E.
Farmer, died unexpectedly in January 2005. Guenter W. Berger, a long time
member of our board of directors and Vice President, Production was appointed
interim CEO and in August 2005 assumed the title of Chairman, CEO and
President. A new coffee buyer was hired in June 2005, and we are currently
recruiting additional management personnel.
WE ARE SUBJECT TO RE-FUNDING OBLIGATIONS AND MAY ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL SHARES
UNDER THE ESOP.
The Farmer Bros. Co. Employee Stock Ownership Plan was designed to help us
attract and retain employees and to better align the efforts of our employees
with the interests of our stockholders. To that end, the Company has purchased
3,000,500 shares of Company stock for the ESOP to allocate to employees over
the next 13 years. It is possible that additional shares could be acquired
that might deplete the Company's cash. We expect that the future re-funding
liability of the existing shares in the ESOP will increase and require
additional investment as the ESOP matures and individual holdings grow. When
employees vested in the ESOP leave the Company, they have the right to "put"
their shares to the Company for cash. This requires the Company to repurchase
the shares at the current market value. When shares are fully distributed, the
Company's re-funding liability is approximately $63,000,000 at current share
prices.
CONCENTRATION OF OWNERSHIP AMONG OUR EXISTING PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS MAY
PREVENT NEW INVESTORS FROM INFLUENCING SIGNIFICANT CORPORATE DECISIONS AND MAY
RESULT IN A LOWER TRADING PRICE FOR OUR STOCK THAN IF OWNERSHIP OF OUR STOCK
WAS LESS CONCENTRATED.
As of August 1, 2005, members of the Farmer family as a group beneficially
owned approximately 40% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these
stockholders, acting together, may be able to influence the outcome of
stockholder votes, including votes concerning the election and removal of
directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This level of
concentrated ownership, along with the factors described in ?Risk Factors ?
Anti-takeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to
acquire us,? may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in the
management or voting control of the Company. In addition, this significant
concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price for our
common stock because investors often perceive disadvantages in owning stock in
companies with such concentrated ownership.
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS COULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR A THIRD PARTY TO
ACQUIRE US.
We have adopted a stockholder rights plan (the ?Rights Plan?) and declared a
dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase right (a ?Right?) for
each outstanding share of our common stock to stockholders of record as of
March 28, 2005. Each Right, when exercisable, will entitle the registered
holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, at a purchase
price of $112.50, subject to adjustment. The Rights expire on March 28, 2015,
unless they are earlier redeemed, exchanged or terminated as provided in the
Rights Plan. Because the Rights may substantially dilute the stock ownership of
a person or group attempting to take us over without the approval of our board
of directors, our Rights Plan could make it more difficult for a third party to
acquire us (or a significant percentage of our outstanding capital stock)
without first negotiating with our board of directors regarding such
acquisition.
In addition, our board of directors has the authority to issue up to 500,000
shares of Preferred Stock (of which 200,000 shares have been designated as
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock) and to determine the price,
rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, of
those shares without any further vote or action by the stockholders. The rights
of the holders of our common stock may be subject to, and may be adversely
affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be
issued in the future. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of
delaying, deterring or preventing a change of control of Farmer Bros. without
further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and
other rights of the holders of our common stock.
Further, certain provisions of our charter documents, including a classified
board of directors, provisions eliminating the ability of stockholders to take
action by written consent, and provisions limiting the ability of stockholders
to raise matters at a meeting of stockholders without giving advance notice,
may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or management
of Farmer Bros., which could have an adverse effect on the market price of our
stock. In addition, our charter documents do not permit cumulative voting,
which may make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of our board
of directors. Further, we are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which will prohibit us
from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested stockholder" for
a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person
became an interested stockholder, even if such combination is favored by a
majority of stockholders, unless the business combination is approved in a
prescribed manner. The application of Section 203 also could have the effect of
delaying or preventing a change of control or management.
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE INTERNAL CONTROLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOX SECTION
404 COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS AND STOCK PRICE.
As directed by SOX Section 404, the SEC adopted rules requiring us, as a public
company, to include a report of management on our internal controls over
financial reporting in our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q that contains an assessment by management of the effectiveness of our
internal controls over financial reporting. In addition, our independent
auditors must attest to and report on management?s assessment of the
effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of the end
of the fiscal year. Compliance with the SOX Section 404 has been a challenge
for many companies. Our ability to continue to comply is an uncertainty as we
expect that our internal controls will continue to evolve as our business
activities change. If, during any year, our independent auditors are not
satisfied with our internal controls over financial reporting or the level at
which these controls are documented, designed, operated, tested or assessed, or
if the independent auditors interpret the requirements, rules or regulations
differently than we do, then they may decline to attest to management?s
assessment or may issue a report that is qualified. In addition, if we fail to
maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified,
supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we
can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over
financial reporting in accordance with SOX Section 404. Failure to maintain an
effective internal control environment could have a material adverse effect on
our stock price. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will be able to
remediate material weaknesses, if any, that may be identified in future
periods.
COMPLIANCE WITH CHANGING REGULATION OF CORPORATE COVERNANCE AND PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE MAY RESULT IN ADDITIONAL EXPENSES.
Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and
public disclosure, including SOX, new SEC and Public Accounting Oversight Board
regulations and Nasdaq National Market rules, are creating uncertainty for
public companies. These new or changed laws, regulations and standards are
subject to varying interpretations in many cases due to their lack of
specificity, and as a result, their application in practice may evolve over
time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies, which
could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher
costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.
We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and
public disclosure. As a result, our efforts to comply with evolving laws,
regulations and standards have resulted in, and are likely to continue to
result in, increased general and administrative expenses and management time
related to compliance activities. Substantial costs have been incurred in
fiscal 2005, and will continue to be incurred to comply with various of these
mandates, including the engagement of separate public accounting firms to
perform work that is now prohibited to be performed by our regular independent
accounting firm, internal costs associated with documenting the adequacy of our
internal controls over financial reporting and similar compliance activities,
and increased costs of audit by our independent accounting firm. If our
efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ
from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to
ambiguities related to practice, our reputation may be harmed and we might be
subject to sanctions or investigation by regulatory authorities, such as the
SEC. Any such action could adversely affect our financial results and the
market price of our common stock. While Farmer Bros. believes that it has
been at all times in material compliance with laws and regulations pertaining
to the proper recording and reporting of our financial results, there can be no
assurance that future regulations, implementing SOX and otherwise, will not
have a material adverse impact on our reported results as compared with prior
reporting periods.
Item 2. Properties
Our largest and most significant facility consists of our roasting plant,
warehouses and administrative offices in Torrance, California. This facility
is our primary manufacturing facility and the distribution hub for our long
haul trucking fleet. We stage our products in 101 small branch warehouses
throughout our service area. These warehouses, taken together, represent a
vital part of our business, but no individual warehouse is material to the
group as a whole. Our warehouses vary in size from approximately 2,500 to
20,000 square feet. We believe our existing plant and branch warehouses will
continue to provide adequate capacity for the foreseeable future.
A complete list of properties and facilities operated by Farmer Bros. is
attached hereto, and incorporated herein by reference, as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We are both defendant and plaintiff in various legal proceedings incidental
to our business which are ordinary and routine. It is our opinion that the
resolution of these lawsuits will not have a material impact on our financial
condition or results of operations.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
None during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters
We have one class of common stock which is traded on the NASDAQ National
Market under the symbol "FARM." The following table sets forth the high and
low sales prices of the shares of Common Stock of the Company. Prices are as
reported on the NASDAQ National Market and represent prices between dealers,
without including retail mark-up, mark-down or commission, and do not
necessarily represent actual trades.
On March 4, 2004, a ten-for-one stock split in the form of a one-time stock
dividend was declared. Each stockholder of record on April 23, 2004 received
nine additional shares for every share of Farmer Bros. Common Stock held. The
new shares were registered on the books of the Company at the close of business
on May 10, 2004. Share and per share amounts have been restated in the table
below to reflect the split.
2005 2004
High Low Dividend High Low Dividend
1st Quarter $27.55 $24.50 $0.100 $35.48 $31.75 $0.095
2nd Quarter $28.40 $24.03 $0.100 $33.35 $30.52 $0.095
3rd Quarter $29.65 $22.05 $0.100 $36.20 $30.10 $0.095
4th Quarter $24.49 $20.78 $0.100 $39.39 $25.11 $0.095
There were approximately 4,091 holders of record on September 12, 2005.
Holders of record is based upon the number of record holders and individual
participants in security position listings.
Effective as of March 17, 2005, our Board of Directors approved a stockholder
rights plan (the "Rights Plan"), pursuant to which the Company entered into a
Rights Agreement dated March 17, 2005 (the "Rights Agreement") with Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent, and the Board declared a dividend of one preferred
share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of the Company's
Common Stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 28,
2005. Each Right, when exercisable, will entitle the registered holder to
purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, at a purchase price
of $112.50, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are
set forth in the Rights Plan. Initially, ownership of the Rights is evidenced
by the certificates representing our Common Stock then outstanding, and no
separate Rights Certificates, as defined in the Rights Plan, have been
distributed. The Rights are not exercisable until the distribution date, as
described in the Rights Agreement, and will expire on March 28, 2015, unless
they are earlier redeemed, exchanged or terminated as provided in the Rights
Plan. No rights have been exercised at this time.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the fiscal years ended June 30,
2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Net sales $198,420 $193,589 $201,558 $205,857 $215,431
(Loss) income from operations($6,583) $3,763 $23,888 $38,210 $42,115
Net (loss) income ($5,427) $12,687 $23,629 $30,569 $36,178
Net (loss) income
per common share (a) ($0.40) $0.81 $1.30 $1.65 $1.96
Total assets $316,553 $317,871 $416,415 $417,524 $390,395
Dividends per common
share (a) $0.40 $0.38 $0.36 $0.34 $0.32
(a) All per share disclosures have been adjusted to reflect the stock split
that became effective on May 10, 2004.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
Management's Discussion and Analysis discusses the results of operations as
reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements. The following
discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors.
The results of operations for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2005, 2004 and
2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any
future period. The following discussion should be read in combination with the
consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Item 8 of
this report and with the "Risk Factors" described in Item 1.
Critical Accounting Policies
Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of
operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have
been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make
estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets,
liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates,
including those related to inventory valuation, including LIFO reserves, the
allowance for doubtful accounts, deferred tax assets, liabilities related to
retirement benefits, liabilities resulting from self-insurance of our workers?
compensation liabilities, and litigation. We base our estimates on historical
experience and other relevant factors that are believed to be reasonable under
the circumstances.
While we believe that the historical experience and other factors considered
provide a meaningful basis for the accounting policies applied in the
preparation of the consolidated financial statements, actual results may
differ from these estimates, which could require the Company to make
adjustments to these estimates in future periods.
Investments: Our investments consist of investment grade marketable debt
instruments issued by the U.S. Government and major U.S. and foreign
corporations, equity securities, primarily preferred stock, and various
derivative instruments, primarily exchange traded treasury futures and options,
green coffee forward contracts and commodity purchase agreements. All
derivatives not designated as accounting hedges are marked to market and
changes are recognized in current earnings. The fair value of derivative
instruments is based upon broker quotes where possible.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts: We maintain an allowance for estimated
losses resulting from the inability of our customers to meet their
obligations. Our ability to maintain a relatively small reserve is directly
related to our ability to collect from our customers when our salespeople
regularly interact with our customers in person. This method of operation has
provided us with a historically low bad debt experience.
Inventories: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market and the
costs of coffee and allied products are determined on the last in, first out
(LIFO) basis. Costs of coffee brewing equipment manufactured are accounted
for on the first in, first out (FIFO) basis. We regularly evaluate these
inventories to determine whether market conditions are correctly reflected in
the recorded carrying value.
Self-Insurance Retention: We are self-insured for California workers'
compensation insurance and use historical analysis to determine and record
the estimates of expected future expenses resulting from workers? compensation
claims. Additionally, we accrue for estimated losses not covered by insurance
for liability, auto, medical and fire up to the deductible amounts.
Retirement Plans: We have two defined benefit plans that provide retirement
benefits for the majority of our employees (the balance of our employees are
covered by union defined benefit plans). We obtain actuarial valuations for
both plans and at present we discount the pension obligations using a 5.30%
discount rate and we estimate an 8% return on plan assets. The performance of
the stock market and other investments as well as the overall health of the
economy can have a material effect on pension investment returns and these
assumptions. A change in these assumptions could affect our operating results.
Our retiree medical plan is not funded and shares the same discount rate as the
defined benefit plans. We project an initial medical trend rate of 10%
ultimately reducing to 5.5% in 6 years.
Income Taxes: Deferred income taxes are determined based on the temporary
differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and
liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which
differences are expected to reverse. We presently have a valuation
allowance for the portion of our deferred tax assets that we estimate is more
likely than not to be unrealizable based on available evidence at the time the
estimate is made. Determining the valuation allowance requires significant
management judgments and assumptions, and each quarter we reevaluate our
estimate related to the valuation allowance and our assumptions related to the
specific tax assets.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have been able to maintain a strong working capital position, and
believe that our short and long term cash requirements will be provided by
internal sources. We do not expect to rely on banks or other third parties for
our working capital needs.
During fiscal 2004, the Company purchased 443,845 shares (pre-split) of its
common stock held by the Crowe Family and related trusts for approximately $111
million, or approximately $250 per share (pre-split). Concurrently with this
purchase, the Company offered its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) the
opportunity to acquire 124,939 shares (pre-split) at the same price. This
portion of the transaction was completed on January 11, 2004 when the Company
issued said shares to the ESOP. The transaction can be summarized as follows:
Cost of shares purchased $ 111,161,000
Cost of shares retired $ 79,926,000
Cost of shares transferred to ESOP $ 31,235,000
Additional information on this matter can be found in Note 11 to the
accompanying financial statements.
Our working capital is composed of the following:
(In thousands) June 30,
2005 2004 2003
Current assets $245,219 $252,720 $346,617
Current liabilities $20,693 $21,189 $16,659
Working capital $224,526 $231,531 $329,958
Capital expenditures $8,832 $7,683 $9,089
At June 30, 2005 we had no major commitments for new capital expenditures. The
following ongoing projects are expected to be completed in fiscal 2006:
1. Construction of warehouses in both Bakersfield and Chico, California is
expected to finish this fall. The combined total cost of improvements for the
two warehouses is expected to be approximately $4 million. During the fourth
quarter of fiscal 2005 we closed escrow on the purchase of a warehouse in
Oakland, California, to meet the needs of our growing Northern California
service area. The total cost for this facility, after improvements, is not
expected to exceed $3 million.
2. We are entering the final year of a multi-year upgrading of our
management information system. At June 30, 2005, we have expended
approximately $14 million since the beginning of the project for hardware,
software, infrastructure, training, consulting and ongoing support. Our
financial systems (general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, fixed
assets and payroll) were converted on July 1, 2003. On September 1, 2004, we
converted our manufacturing system. The final conversion is our sales system
which is scheduled to occur during fiscal 2006. Costs to complete this project
are estimated to be approximately $4 million in fiscal 2006.
Results of Operations
Fiscal years ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
Net sales in fiscal 2005 increased $4,831,000 or 2% to $198,420,000 from
$193,589,000 in fiscal 2004, primarily because of higher sales prices of roast
coffee. During fiscal 2005 we initiated additional programs intended to
improve sales. We revised our sales incentive program to more clearly focus
our sales people. In an effort to advance our image more clearly and
aggressively with current and potential customers, we redesigned our
merchandising and point of sale materials used by our customers, and we have
set an aggressive trade show schedule with a new booth. Most importantly, we
have assembled a team of sales professionals drawn from the ranks of our route
sales organization. This group will work with and separately from our existing
sales organization to solicit new large customer accounts and maintain existing
relationships with our large customers. In addition, we have developed some
new products that we believe will appeal to both new and existing customers,
including cultural drinks like horchata (a sweet rice drink with almond and
cinnamon), fruit smoothies (an iced beverage), an expanded line of teas, liquid
coffee, and some new seasonal products like Pumpkin Pie Cappuccino.
Cost of goods sold in fiscal 2005 increased 16% to $82,964,000 or 42% of sales,
as compared to $71,405,000, or 37% of sales, in fiscal 2004. The average cost
of green coffee in fiscal 2005 exceeded that of fiscal 2004 by 74%. A
volatile, sustained increase in green coffee prices in the second and third
quarters of fiscal 2005 resulted in a decrease in profit margins on roast
coffee during those periods. As previously reported in our filings with the
SEC, we expect to pass on this cost increase through higher roast coffee
prices, but such price increases lag increases in green coffee costs, and price
increases did not take effect until June 2005.
Selling and General & Administrative Expenses in fiscal 2005 increased 3% to
$122,039,000 from $118,421,000 in fiscal 2004. This increase is primarily
attributed to costs associated with the employee medical program, the cost of
the ESOP, the project-related costs of our multi-year information systems
project and consulting costs related to compliance with Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (?SOX?) as summarized in the following table.
Principal increases in Selling and General and Administrative Expenses
(In thousands)
June 30,
2005 2004
Employee medical costs $ 6,945 $ 6,091
ESOP 7,163 6,298
IT project expenses 3,035 3,400
IT project depreciation 3,228 1,467
SOX compliance 1,100 360
Total $21,471 $17,616
As a result of lower profit margins and higher operating expenses, the Company
had an operating loss in fiscal 2005 of ($6,583,000) as compared to operating
income of $3,763,000 in fiscal 2004.
Another result of the dramatic increase in green coffee costs during fiscal
2005 was a realized loss on green coffee futures and options used by the
Company to hedge against a decline in commodity prices. Total Other Expense was
($4,746,000) in fiscal 2005 as compared to Total Other Income of $12,219,000 in
fiscal 2004. Other, net (expense) was ($10,887,000) for fiscal 2005 as compared
to Other, net income of $6,305,000 for fiscal 2004.
Higher green coffee prices during fiscal 2005 resulted in a decrease in the
value of green coffee futures and options used by the Company to hedge against
a decline in commodity prices. Other, net (expense) income during fiscal 2005
included realized coffee trading gains of $3,655,000 offset by realized coffee
trading losses of ($16,764,000).
Rising interest rates have helped interest income in fiscal 2005, but the
January 2004 purchase of $111 million of Company stock from the Crowe family
reduced the amount available for investment in fiscal 2005, as compared to
fiscal 2004. In addition, Other, net income in fiscal 2004 included $5,778,000
of non-recurring income.
As a result of the forgoing factors the net loss for fiscal 2005 was
($5,427,000) as compared to net income $12,687,000 for fiscal 2004. Net loss
per common share was ($0.40) in fiscal 2005 as compared to net income per
common share of $0.81 in fiscal 2004.
Fiscal years ended June 30, 2004 and 2003
Net sales in fiscal 2004 decreased $7,969,000, or 4%, to $193,589,000 from
$201,558,000 in fiscal 2003. This includes a decrease in coffee brewing
equipment sales during fiscal 2004 of $3.9 million.
The National Restaurant Association forecasted that industry sales would
increase 4.4% for calendar 2004, but despite the persistent efforts of our
sales force we did not keep pace with this forecast. We note that regional
results often do not reflect national averages and our California operations,
representing our largest marketing area, showed limited improvement in fiscal
2004.
Consumer sentiment and spending patterns, which we believe affects our
customers, were not enhanced in fiscal 2004 by rising commodity prices (leading
to higher grocery store and menu prices), record high gasoline prices (which
can have an emotional effect on discretionary spending), and uncertainty about
job stability, terrorism and the Iraq war (which can lead to just staying
home).
Cost of goods sold in fiscal 2004 increased 1% to $71,405,000, or 37% of
sales, as compared to $70,662,000, or 35% of sales, in fiscal 2003. The
average cost of green coffee throughout fiscal 2004 exceeded that of fiscal
2003 by 15%. Through price adjustments we were, on average, able to maintain
margins for fiscal 2004, although shrinking gross profit margins were
experienced during the last half of the fiscal year. Selling and General &
Administrative Expenses in fiscal 2004 increased 11% to $118,421,000 from
$107,008,000 in fiscal 2003.
As a result of these factors, operating income in 2004 decreased 83% to
$3,763,000 from $23,888,000 in fiscal 2003.
Other income decreased 11% to $12,219,000 in fiscal 2004 as compared to
$13,683,000 in fiscal 2003. Low interest rates limited investment
returns, and the expenditure of more than $111 million to purchase stock from
the Crowe family reduced the amount available for investment. Additionally,
the Company's Chairman, Roy F. Farmer, who guided the Company for more than 50
years, died on March 16, 2004. The Company received payment on a key man life
insurance policy on Mr. Farmer that was not taxable and paid the deferred
compensation due Mr. Farmer. The Company prevailed in a lawsuit against the
California Franchise Tax Board regarding taxability of dividends. As a result
we received a tax refund of $811,000 and interest income of $629,000. The
Company received another court award, as a plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit
regarding price-fixing by sellers of monosodium glutamate. The non-recurring
items in other income include the following.
Key man life insurance $4,088,000
Court awards 1,061,000
Interest on state tax refunds 629,000
Total $5,778,000
Net income for fiscal 2004 decreased 46% to $12,687,000 as compared to
$23,629,000 in fiscal 2003. Net income per common share decreased 38% in
fiscal 2004 to $0.81 per share as compared to $1.30 per common share in fiscal
2003.
Contractual obligations.
The following table contains supplemental information regarding total
contractual obligations as of June 30, 2005.
(In thousands) Less Than More Than
Total One Year 2-3 Years 4-5 Years 5 years
Operating lease obligations $1,690 $783 $776 $131 $ -
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Item 7A. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to market value risk arising from changes in interest rates
on our securities portfolio. Our portfolio of investment grade money
market instruments can include at any given time discount commercial paper,
medium term notes, federal agency issues and treasury securities. As of June
30, 2005, over 90% of these funds were invested in U.S. Treasury securities and
approximately 50% of these issues have maturities shorter than 90 days. This
portfolio's interest rate risk is not hedged and its average maturity is
approximately 90 days. A 100 basis point move in the general level of interest
rates would result in a change in the market value of the portfolio of
approximately $1,110,000.
Our portfolio of preferred securities includes investments in derivatives
that provide a natural economic hedge of interest rate risk. We review the
interest rate sensitivity of these securities and (a) enter into "short
positions" in futures contracts on U.S. Treasury securities or (b) hold put
options on such futures contracts in order to reduce the impact of certain
interest rate changes on such preferred stocks. Specifically, we attempt
to manage the risk arising from changes in the general level of interest
rates. We do not transact in futures contracts or put options for
speculative purposes.
The following table demonstrates the impact of varying interest rate
changes based on the preferred stock holdings, futures and options
positions, and market yield and price relationships at June 30, 2005. This
table is predicated on an instantaneous change in the general level of
interest rates and assumes predictable relationships between the prices of
preferred securities holdings, the yields on U.S. Treasury securities and
related futures and options.
The number and type of futures and options contracts entered into depends
on, among other items, the specific maturity and issuer redemption
provisions for each preferred stock held, the slope of the Treasury
yield curve, the expected volatility of U.S. Treasury yields, and the costs of
using futures and/or options.
Interest Rate Changes
(In thousands) Market Value at June 30, 2005 Change in Market
Preferred Futures and Total Value of Total
Securities Options Portfolio Portfolio
- -150 basis points $65,717 $0 $65,717 $65,717
- -100 basis points $64,852 $0 $64,852 $64,852
Unchanged $61,660 $239 $61,899 $61,899
+100 basis points $56,881 $3,800 $60,681 $60,681
+150 basis points $54,280 $6,220 $60,500 $60,500
Commodity Price Changes
We are exposed to commodity price risk arising from changes in the market
price of green coffee. We price our inventory on the LIFO basis. In the
normal course of business we hold a large green coffee inventory and enter into
forward commodity purchase agreements with suppliers. We are subject to price
risk resulting from the volatility of green coffee prices. Volatile price
increases cannot, because of competition and market conditions, always bepassed
on to our customers. From time to time the Company will hold a mix of futures
contracts and options to help hedge against volatile green coffee price
decreases. Gains and losses on these derivative instruments are realized
immediately in Other, net (expense) income.
On June 30, 2005 we had no open hedge derivative contracts, and our entire
exposure to commodity risk was in the potential change of our inventory value
resulting from changes in the market price of green coffee.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Farmer Bros. Co. and Subsidiary
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Farmer Bros.
Co. and Subsidiary as of June 30, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended June 30, 2005. These financial statements are
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we
plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Farmer Bros. Co.
and Subsidiary at June 30, 2005 and 2004, and the consolidated results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
June 30, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Farmer Bros.
Co. and Subsidiary's internal control over financial reporting as of June 30,
2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
and our report dated September 7, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion
thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Los Angeles, California
September 7, 2005
FARMER BROS. CO.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
June 30, 2005 June 30, 2004
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $9,814 $21,807
Short term investments 171,055 176,903
Accounts and notes receivable, net 15,485 14,565
Inventories 41,086 35,579
Income tax receivable 4,064 408
Deferred income taxes - 775
Prepaid expenses 3,715 2,683
Total current assets $245,219 $252,720
Property, plant and equipment, net 42,671 42,300
Notes receivable 0 143
Other assets 21,268 21,609
Deferred income taxes 5,765 1,099
Total assets $314,923 $317,871
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $7,852 $9,589
Accrued payroll expenses 7,590 6,999
Deferred income taxes 321 -
Other 4,930 4,601
Total current liabilities $20,693 $21,189
Accrued postretirement benefits $29,344 $26,984
Total liabilities $50,037 $48,173
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $1.00 par value,
authorized 25,000,000 shares; $16,075 $16,075
16,075,080 issued and outstanding
Additional paid-in capital 32,292 32,248
Retained earnings 272,791 283,654
Unearned ESOP shares (55,415) (61,542)
Less accumulated comprehensive loss (857) (737)
Total stockholders' equity $264,886 $269,698
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $314,923 $317,871
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
FARMER BROS. CO.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
Years ended June 30,
2005 2004 2003
Net sales $198,420 $193,589 $201,558
Cost of goods sold 82,964 71,405 70,662
Gross profit $115,456 $122,184 $130,896
Selling expense 92,112 92,029 88,658
General and administrative expenses 29,927 26,392 18,350
Operating expenses $122,039 $118,421 $107,008
(Loss) income from operations ($6,583) $3,763 $23,888
Other income (expense):
Dividend income 3,420 3,396 3,246
Interest income 2,721 2,518 3,974
Other, net (expense) income (10,887) 6,305 6,463
Total other (expense) income ($4,746) $12,219 $13,683
(Loss) income before taxes (11,329) 15,982 37,571
Income tax (benefit) expense (5,902) 3,295 13,942
Net (loss) income ($5,427) $12,687 $23,629
Net (loss) income per common share ($0.40) $0.81 $1.30
Weighted average shares outstanding 13,653,420 15,576,450 18,145,910
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
FARMER BROS. CO.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
Years ended June 30,
2005 2004 2003
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income ($5,427) $12,687 $23,629
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to
net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation 8,396 7,098 5,776
Deferred income taxes (3,510) (1,536) 3,989
Gain on sales of assets (100) (94) (498)
ESOP compensation expense 6,171 5,516 4,269
Net loss (gain) on investments 11,571 (706) (5,625)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Short term investments (5,723) (12,914) 16,721
Accounts and notes receivable (777) (759) 279
Inventories (5,507) (877) 2,659
Income tax receivable (3,656) 2,470 (325)
Prepaid expenses and other assets (637) 4,064 (1,128)
Accounts payable (1,737) 6,268 (1,506)
Accrued payroll, expenses and
other liabilities 920 (762) 930
Accrued postretirement benefits 2,126 2,285 1,904
Other long term liabilities - (5,570) 84
Total adjustments $7,537 4,483 27,529
Net cash provided by
operating activities $2,110 $17,170 $51,158
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (8,832) (7,683) (9,089)
Proceeds from sales of property,
plant and equipment 165 132 630
Net cash used in investing activities ($8,667) ($7,551) ($8,459)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid (5,436) (5,621) (6,523)
ESOP contributions - (32,412) (24,237)
Proceeds from sale of short
term investments - 111,161 -
Purchase of capital stock - (111,161) -
Sale of capital stock - 31,235 -
Net cash used in financing activities ($5,436) ($6,798) ($30,760)
Net (decrease) increase in cash
and cash equivalents ($11,993) $2,821 $11,939
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 21,807 18,986 7,047
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $9,814 $21,807 $18,986
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
FARMER BROS. CO.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Code of Ethics As the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or the holder of such other position to which Farmer Bros. Co. (the ?Company?) has applied this code, I recognize that financial managers hold an important and elevated role in corporate governance. I certify that I will adhere to the following principles and responsibilities: Act with honesty and integrity, avoiding actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; Provide in the Company?s reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission and other public communications with information that is accurate, objective, relevant, timely and understandable; Comply with applicable rules and regulations of federal, state and local governments and other private and public regulatory agencies, including exchanges where the Company?s securities might be listed; Act in good faith, responsibly, with due care, competence and diligence, and without misrepresenting material facts or allowing my independent judgment to be subordinated; Maintain the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of my work except when authorized or otherwise legally obligated to disclose. Confidential information acquired in the course of my work will not be used for personal advantage; Share my knowledge and maintain skills important and relevant to my constituents? needs. Promote ethical behavior as a responsible partner among peers in my work environment; Achieve responsible use of and control over all assets and resources employed or entrusted to me; Report known or suspected violations of this Code to the Audit Committee and in accordance with all applicable rules. Report to the Audit Committee any actual or apparent conflicts of interest between me and the Company and between any Company officer or director and the Company of which I become aware. I understand that I will be accountable for adhering to this Code of Ethics and that violations will not be tolerated by the Company and will result in consequences which may include reprimand, suspension, dismissal or legal action. Dated: September 13, 2005 /s/ Guenter W. Berger Guenter W. Berger, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Dated: September 13, 2005 /s/ John E. Simmons John E. Simmons, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Farmer Bros. Co. Subsidiaries: FBC Finance Co., a California corporation 20333 S. Normandie Avenue Torrance, CA 90502
Exhibit 31.1
Certification Pursuant
to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Guenter W. Berger, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Farmer
Bros. Co. ("Registrant"), certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Registrant;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects
the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant
as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial
reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the
Registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities,
particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision,
to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness
of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered
by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant's internal control
over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent
fiscal quarter (the Registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual
report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control over
financial reporting.
Date: September 13, 2005
/s/ Guenter W. Berger
Guenter W. Berger
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Exhibit 31.2
Certification Pursuant
to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, John E. Simmons, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Farmer Bros. Co.
("Registrant"), certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Registrant;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects
the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant
as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial
reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the
Registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities,
particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision,
to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness
of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered
by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant's internal control
over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent
fiscal quarter (the Registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual
report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The Registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control over
financial reporting.
Date: September 13, 2005
/s/ John E. Simmons
John E. Simmons
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Exhibit 32.1 CERTIFICATION of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 In connection with the Annual Report of Farmer Bros. Co. (the "Company") on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Guenter W. Berger, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that: 1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and 2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Dated: September 13, 2005 /s/ Guenter W. Berger Guenter W. Berger Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman (Principal Executive Officer) A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
Exhibit 32.2 CERTIFICATION of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 In connection with the Annual Report of Farmer Bros. Co. (the "Company") on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, John E. Simmons, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that: 1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and 2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operation of the Company. Dated: September 13, 2005 /s/ John E. Simmons John E. Simmons Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
Farmer Bros Co. Offices Warehouses and Plants: The Corporation, Farmer Bros. Co., headquartered in Torrance, California, roasts and packages coffee, processes spices and other restaurant supplies at that location, and manufactures a complete line of coffee-brewing equipment at its Brewmatic Division plant in Los Angeles. The Corporation's primary business is conducted through its internal divisions: Restaurant and Institutional Sales Division, Brewmatic Division, Spice Products Division and Custom Coffee Plan Division; and one subsidiary, FBC Finance Company. Executive Offices: Farmer Bros. Co. 20333 South Normandie Avenue, Torrance, California Restaurant and Institutional Sales Division 20401 South Normandie Avenue, Torrance, California Brewmatic Company Division 20333 South Normandie Avenue, Torrance, California Spice Products Company Division 20333 South Normandie Avenue, Torrance, California Custom Coffee Plan Division 20333 South Normandie Avenue, Torrance, California FBC Finance Co. 20333 South Normandie Avenue, Torrance, California RESTAURANT AND INSTITUTIONAL SALES BRANCHES Arizona FLAGSTAFF 2385 N. Walgreen Street LAKE HAVASU 1880 Commander Dr., Suite C PHOENIX 1060 W. Alameda Dr. Tempe TUCSON 3818 South Evans Blvd. YUMA 3320 E. Gila Ridge Rd. Arkansas FAYETTEVILLE 3901-D Kelly Springdale LITTLE ROCK 7630 Hardin Drive North Little Rock California BAKERSFIELD 1135 W. Columbus BISHOP 324 E. Clarke Street CASTROVILLE 11460 Commercial Parkway CHICO 252 East Avenue, Suite F EUREKA 1825 3rd Street FRESNO 4576 N. Bendel LANCASTER 42138 7th Street West OAKLAND 9844 Kitty Lane PALM SPRINGS 72205 Corporate Way Thousand Palms RIVERSIDE 12101 Madera Way SACRAMENTO 2450 Boatman Ave. SAN DIEGO 7855 Ostrow St., B SAN GABRIEL 859 Meridian St. Duarte SAN JOSE 1462 Seareel Pl. SAN LUIS OBISPO 3415 Miguelito Ct. SANTA Ana 3921 W. Segerstrom Ave. SANTA ROSA 470 E. Todd Rd. STOCKTON 4243 Arch Road TORRANCE 20401 S. Normandie Ave. VALLEY 9373 Remick Ave. Arleta VENTURA 1350 Stellar Dr. Oxnard VICTORVILLE 17190 Yuma ST. Victorville Colorado COLORADO SPRINGS 337 Manitou Ave. Manitou Springs DENVER 5595 Joliet Street FORT COLLINS 4500 Innovation Drive GRAND JUNCTION 2848 Chipeta Ave., #B Idaho BOISE 1625 South Curtis IDAHO FALLS 805 S. Saturn Ave. TWIN FALLS 445 5th Ave. W Resident Branch Illinois CHICAGO 31W280 Diehl Rd., Unit 103 Naperville MOLINE 2950 38th Avenue SPRINGFIELD 3430 Constitution Dr. #122 Indiana EVANSVILLE 1905 N. Kentucky Ave. INDIANAPOLIS 1123 Country Club Rd. Iowa DES MOINES 1662 N.E. 55th Ave. OMAHA 3217 Nebraska Ave. Council Bluffs Kansas WICHITA 2355 S. Edwards,Suite B Minnesota DULUTH 4314 Enterprise Cr. MINNEAPOLIS 3074 84th Lane N E Blaine Missouri COLUMBIA 4881 B I-70 Drive SW KANSAS CITY 9 N.E. Skyline Dr. Lee's Summit SPRINGFIELD 450 M S. Union ST. LOUIS 12832 Pennridge Dr. Montana BILLINGS 2625 Enterprise Ave. GREAT FALLS 2600 16th St. N.E. Black Eagle MISSOULA 2751 Charlo St. Nebraska NORTH PLATTE 601 Sioux Meadow Nevada ELKO 460 S. A Street LAS VEGAS 3417 Losee Rd. CARSON CITY 3880 Technology Way New Mexico ALBUQUERQUE 5911 Office Blvd. FARMINGTON 1414 Schofield Lane Resident Branch ROSWELL 710 East College North Dakota BISMARCK 3800 Commerce Drive, Suite C FARGO 710 38th St. N.W. Unit C Oklahoma OKLAHOMA CITY 4611 S.W. 20th St. TULSA 804 S. 8th St. Broken Arrow Oregon BEND 20409 N. W. Cady Way Resident Branch EUGENE 2545-F Prairie Rd. MEDFORD 777 East Vilas Rd. Central Point PORTLAND 7515 N.E. 33rd Dr. SALEM 3790-G Silverton Rd. NE South Dakota RAPID CITY 2030 Creek Dr. SIOUX FALLS 2405 W. 5th St. Tennessee MEMPHIS 5753 E. Shelby Dr., Ste 1 Texas AMARILLO 1415 S. Johnson St. AUSTIN 2004 Lamar Dr. Round Rock CORPUS CHRISTI 3909 Wow Road DALLAS/FT. WORTH 744 Avenue H East Arlington EL PASO 1325 Don Haskins Dr. HOUSTON 6638 Rupley Circle LUBBOCK 1608 D No. University Resident Branch McALLEN 1312 E. Laurel ODESSA 2017 W. 7th SAN ANTONIO 4930 Center Park WICHITA FALLS 1404 Beverly Drive Utah SALT LAKE CITY 2230 So. 2000 West ST. GEORGE 988 W. Sunset Blvd. #4 Washington SEATTLE 8660 Willows Rd. Redmond SPOKANE E. 10915 Montgomery Dr. TACOMA 9412 Front Street Lakewood YAKIMA 2301 S. 18th Street Union Gap Wisconsin GREEN BAY 1227 S. Maple Ave. LA CROSSE 1232 Clinton St. MADISON 1017 Jonathan Dr. MILWAUKEE W. 182 S8335-A Racine Ave. Muskego Wyoming CASPER 2170 N. Old Salt Creek Hwy. CUSTOM COFFEE PLAN BRANCHES: California NORTH HOLLYWOOD 7419 Bellaire Ave. SAN DIEGO 7855-A Ostrow St. SAN LEANDRO 3041 Teagarden TORRANCE 20333 S. Normandie Ave. Colorado DENVER 5595 Joliet Street, #B Texas DALLAS 722 Avenue H East Arlington HOUSTON 11519 South Petropark Drive 9/12/2005