Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 8, 2010

 

 

Farmer Bros. Co.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-34249   95-0725980

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

20333 South Normandie Avenue, Torrance, California   90502
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(310) 787-5200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 9, 2010, Farmer Bros. Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), issued an earnings release announcing its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2009. A copy of the earnings release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(c) Appointment of Chief Financial Officer (Interim)

(1) On February 8, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Company, appointed Peter B. Knepper to the position of Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis, effective February 8, 2010, reporting directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

(2) Mr. Knepper, age 61, is and has been since January 2007 a member of Tatum, LLC (“Tatum”), an executive services firm. During his time with Tatum, Mr. Knepper has served privately and publicly owned clients that included International Rectifier Corporation, a semiconductor manufacturer, from January 2008 to December 2008, initially as a consultant until April 2008, then as Acting Chief Financial Officer until October 2008, and finally as Vice President of Finance and Accounting through the end of 2008. From May 2007 to January 2008 Mr. Knepper served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Coto Global Services LLC, a privately held interpretation and translation services provider. Prior to his involvement with Tatum, from January to May 2006, Mr. Knepper served as Interim Chief Financial Officer of MDI, Inc., a publicly traded company serving the security products industry, and from May 2005 to October 2009 he served as a member of MDI, Inc.’s Board of Directors. From March 2000 to June 2003 he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Key3Media Group Inc., a producer of information technology tradeshows and conferences. Prior to Key3Media, Mr. Knepper served for ten years as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ticketmaster Group, Inc., an automated ticketing services company. He has held senior management positions with several corporations and has an extensive background in mergers and acquisitions, raising capital in public and private transactions, and public accounting. A Certified Public Accountant, Mr. Knepper began his career with Price Waterhouse & Co. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California.

Other than as set forth in the Agreement (defined below), there are no understandings or arrangements between Mr. Knepper and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Knepper was selected as Chief Financial Officer (Interim). Mr. Knepper has no family relationship with any director or executive officer of the Company. Other than as set forth in the Agreement, Mr. Knepper presently does not have a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or proposed transaction in which the Company is or is to be a party in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000.

(3) Mr. Knepper has been serving as a financial consultant to the Company since December 18, 2009 pursuant to an Interim Services Agreement, dated December 17, 2009 (the “Agreement”), between the Company and Tatum. The Agreement has been amended as of February 8, 2010 to reflect Mr. Knepper’s appointment as Chief Financial Officer (Interim).

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company pays Tatum $55,000 per month for services provided by Mr. Knepper. The Company also pays Tatum an administrative fee equal to 5% of the fees payable to Tatum for Mr. Knepper’s services, which covers ancillary administrative costs. The Company is required to reimburse Tatum directly for all travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Agreement. The Agreement has a minimum term of two (2) months. After the minimum term, the Agreement may be terminated by either party on fifteen (15) days’ advance written notice. Mr. Knepper will continue as a member of Tatum while providing services to the Company. The foregoing description of the Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.


In connection with his service as Chief Financial Officer (Interim), Mr. Knepper and the Company will enter into the Company’s standard form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers, pursuant to which the Company will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify and hold harmless Mr. Knepper against all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding by reason of his status as an officer of the Company. The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of Indemnification Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 (to update the schedule of indemnitees), and is incorporated herein by reference.

(e) Compensatory Arrangements

Information regarding Mr. Knepper’s compensatory arrangements is contained in the response to Item 5.02(c) above and incorporated in this Item 5.02(e) by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

 

Description

10.1   Interim Services Agreement, dated December 17, 2009, by and between Farmer Bros. Co. and Tatum, LLC*
10.2   Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers of the Company, as adopted on May 18, 2006 and as amended on December 31, 2008 (with updated schedule of indemnitees attached)*
99.1   Earnings Release of Farmer Bros. Co. dated February 9, 2010

 

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: February 10, 2010

 

FARMER BROS. CO.
By:  

/S/    ROGER M. LAVERTY III        

Name:   Roger M. Laverty III
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1    Interim Services Agreement, dated December 17, 2009, by and between Farmer Bros. Co. and Tatum, LLC*
10.2    Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers of the Company, as adopted on May 18, 2006 and as amended on December 31, 2008 (with updated schedule of indemnitees attached)*
99.1    Earnings Release of Farmer Bros. Co. dated February 9, 2010

 

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Interim Services Agreement Dated 12/17/2009

EXHIBIT 10.1

LOGO

December 17, 2009

Farmer Brothers Coffee Company

Mr. Roger Laverty

Chief Executive Officer

20333 S. Normandie Ave.

Torrance, CA 90502

Dear Mr. Laverty:

Tatum, LLC (“Tatum,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is pleased that Farmers Brothers Coffee Company (“Company,” “you” or “your”) has selected us to provide you with outsourced interim services. The services (the “Services”) and fees will be more particularly described on the Schedule attached hereto and will be provided by the individual resource (the “Tatum Resource”) identified on such Schedule. Schedules for additional Tatum Resources may be added from time to time upon the mutual written agreement of the parties.

Engagement. The Tatum Resource will be one of Tatum’s employees or members, and we will be solely responsible for determining the conditions, terms and payment of compensation and benefits for the Tatum Resource. You will be solely responsible for providing the Tatum Resource day-to-day guidance, supervision, direction, assistance and other information necessary for the successful and timely completion of the Services. Tatum will have no oversight, control, or authority over the Tatum Resource with respect to the Services. The Company acknowledges that it is solely responsible for the sufficiency of the Services for its purposes. The Company will designate a management-level individual to be responsible for overseeing the Services, and the Tatum Resource will report directly to such individual with respect to the provision of the Services. Unless the Tatum Resource is acting as an executive officer of the Company and is authorized by the Company to make such decision, the Company will not permit or require the Tatum Resource to be the ultimate decision making authority for any material decision relating to your business, including, without limitation, any proposed merger, acquisition, recapitalization, financial strategy or restructuring.

Fees and Expenses. You will pay us the fees set forth on the applicable Schedule. In addition to our standard professional service fees, we will charge an administrative fee equal to 5% of our professional service fees, which covers ancillary administrative costs such as technology, communication, and supplies. In addition, you will reimburse Tatum directly for all travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with this agreement (including any Schedules).

 

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Payment Terms. Payments to Tatum should be made within 3 days of receipt of invoice by electronic transfer in accordance with the instructions set forth below or such alternative instructions as provided by us from time to time. Any amounts not paid when due may be subject to a periodic service charge equal to the lesser of 1.5% per month and the maximum amount allowed under applicable law, until such amounts are paid in full, including assessed service charges. In lieu of terminating this agreement, we may suspend the provision of any Services if amounts owed are not paid in accordance with the terms of this agreement.

 

Bank Name and Address:    Silicon Valley Bank
  

3003 Tasman Drive

Santa Clara, CA 95054

Beneficiary:    Tatum, LLC
Beneficiary Account Number:    3300599791
ABA Transit/Routing Number:    121140399

Please reference Farmer Brothers Coffee Company in the body of the payment.

Effective Date and Termination. This agreement will be effective as of the earlier of (i) the date Tatum begins providing Services to the Company, and (ii) the date of the last signature to this agreement as indicated on the signature page. In the event that a party commits a breach of this agreement (including any Schedule) and fails to cure the same within 10 days following delivery by the non-breaching party of written notice specifying the nature of the breach, the non-breaching party may terminate this agreement or the applicable Schedule effective upon written notice of such termination. The termination rights set forth in this Section are in addition to and not in lieu of the termination rights set forth in each of the Schedules.

Hiring the Tatum Resource Outside of a Tatum Agreement. The parties recognize and agree that Tatum is responsible for introducing the Tatum Resources to the Company. Therefore, if, at any time during the time frame in which a Tatum Resource is providing Services to the Company and for a period of 12-months thereafter, other than in connection with this agreement or another Tatum agreement, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates employs such Tatum Resource, or engages such Tatum Resource as an independent contractor, the Company will pay Tatum a placement fee in an amount equal to 50% of Tatum’s Annualized Fees (as defined below). The amount will be due and payable to Tatum upon written demand to the Company. “Annualized Fees” means the equivalent of what Tatum would receive under this agreement for such Tatum Resource on a full-time annual basis plus the maximum amount of any bonus for which Tatum was eligible with respect to the then-current bonus year for the Tatum Resource.

Warranties and Disclaimers. We disclaim all representations and warranties, whether express, implied or statutory, including, but not limited to any warranties of quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness of use or purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, we make no representation or warranty with respect to the Tatum Resource or the Services provided hereunder, and we will not be responsible for any action taken by you in following or declining to follow any of the Tatum Resource’s advice or recommendations. The Services provided by Tatum and the Tatum Resource hereunder are for the sole benefit of the Company and not any unnamed third parties. The Services will not constitute an audit, review, opinion, or compilation, or any other type of financial statement reporting or attestation engagement that is subject to the rules of the AICPA or other similar state or national professional bodies or laws and will not result in an opinion or any form of assurance on internal controls.

Limitation of Liability; Indemnity.

(a) Tatum’s liability in any and all categories and for any and all causes arising under this agreement, whether based in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability or otherwise, will, in the aggregate, not exceed the actual fees paid by you to us over the previous two months’ of the agreement with respect

 

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to the Tatum Resource from whom the liability arises. In no event will we be liable for incidental, consequential, punitive, indirect or special damages, including, without limitation, interruption or loss of business, profit or goodwill. As a condition for recovery of any liability, you must assert any claim against us within three months after discovery or 60 days after the termination or expiration of the applicable Schedule under which the liability arises, whichever is earlier.

(b) You agree to indemnify us and the Tatum Resource to the full extent permitted by law for any losses, costs, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), as they are incurred, in connection with any cause of action, suit, or other proceeding arising in connection with the Tatum Resource’s services to you.

Insurance.

If the Tatum Resource is serving as an officer or executive of the Company, the Company will provide Tatum or the Tatum Resource with written evidence that the Company maintains directors’ and officers’ insurance covering the Tatum Resource in an amount reasonably acceptable to the Tatum at no additional cost to the Tatum Resource, and the Company will maintain such insurance at all times while this agreement remains in effect. Furthermore, the Company will maintain such insurance coverage with respect to occurrences arising during the term of this agreement for at least five years following the termination or expiration of the applicable Schedule or will purchase a directors’ and officers’ extended reporting period or “tail” policy to cover the Tatum Resource for such five year time period.

Governing Law, Arbitration and Witness Fees.

(a) This agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, without regard to conflicts of laws provisions.

(b) If the parties are unable to resolve any dispute arising out of or in connection with this agreement, the parties agree and stipulate that any such disputes will be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitration will be conducted in the Atlanta, Georgia office of the AAA by a single arbitrator selected by the parties according to the rules of the AAA, and the decision of the arbitrator will be final and binding on both parties. In the event that the parties fail to agree on the selection of the arbitrator within 30 days after either party’s request for arbitration under this Section, the arbitrator will be chosen by the AAA. The arbitrator may in his or her discretion order documentary discovery but will not allow depositions without a showing of compelling need. The arbitrator will render his or her decision within 90 days after the call for arbitration. Judgment on the award of the arbitrator may be entered in and enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitrator will have no authority to award damages in excess or in contravention of this agreement and may not amend or disregard any provision of this agreement, including this section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may seek appropriate injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction, and Tatum may pursue payment of any unpaid amounts due under this agreement through any court of competent jurisdiction.

(c) In the event any member or employee of Tatum (including, without limitation, any Tatum Resource) is requested or authorized by you or is required by government regulation, subpoena, or other legal process to produce documents or appear as witnesses in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding initiated by a third party against you or by you against a third party, you will, so long as Tatum is not a party to the proceeding in which the information is sought, reimburse Tatum for its member’s or employee’s professional time (based on customary rates) and expenses, as well as the fees and expenses of its counsel, incurred in responding to such requests. This provision is in addition to and not in lieu of any indemnification obligations the Company may have under this agreement.

 

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Miscellaneous.

(a) This agreement together with all Schedules constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all agreements, whether oral or written, between the parties with respect to its subject matter. No amendment or modification to this agreement will be valid unless in writing and signed by both parties.

(b) If any portion of this agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be deemed severable from the remainder of this agreement and will not cause the invalidity or unenforceability of the remainder of this agreement, except to the extent that the severed provision deprives either party of a substantial portion of its bargain.

(c) Neither party will be deemed to have waived any rights or remedies accruing under this agreement unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the party electing to waive the right or remedy. The waiver by any party of a breach or violation of any provision of this agreement will not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of such provision or any other provision of this agreement.

(d) Neither party will be liable for any delay or failure to perform under this agreement (other than with respect to payment obligations) to the extent such delay or failure is a result of an act of God, war, earthquake, civil disobedience, court order, labor dispute, or other cause beyond such party’s reasonable control.

(e) You may not assign your rights or obligations under this agreement without the express written consent of Tatum. Nothing in this agreement will confer any rights upon any person or entity other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and the Tatum Resources.

(f) The expiration or termination of this agreement or any Schedule will not destroy or diminish the binding force and effect of any of the provisions of this agreement or any Schedule that expressly, or by reasonable implication, come into or continue in effect on or after such expiration or termination, including, without limitation, provisions relating to payment of fees and expenses (including witness fees and expenses and liquidated damage fees), governing law, arbitration, limitation of liability and indemnity.

(g) You agree to reimburse Tatum for all costs and expenses incurred by Tatum in enforcing collection of any monies due under this agreement, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs and arbitration fees.

(h) You agree to allow us to use the Company’s logo and name on Tatum’s website and other marketing materials for the sole purpose of identifying the Company as a client of Tatum. Tatum will not use the Company’s logo or name in any press release or general circulation advertisement without the Company’s prior written consent.

 

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LOGO

 

We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and believe this agreement accurately reflects our mutual understanding of the terms upon which the Services will be provided. We would be pleased to discuss this agreement with you at your convenience. If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign a copy of this agreement and return it to my attention.

 

Sincerely,
Tatum, LLC

/s/ Arthur Cohen

Arthur Cohen
Area Managing Partner – Southern California

 

Accepted and agreed:

 

Farmer Brothers Coffee Company
By:  

/s/ Roger M. Laverty

Name:  

Roger M. Laverty

Title:  

CEO

Date:  

12/18/09

 

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LOGO

 

Schedule to Interim Services Agreement

This Schedule is entered into in connection with that certain Interim Services Agreement, dated December 17, 2009 (the “Agreement”), by and between Tatum, LLC (“Tatum,” “we,” “us” or “our”) and Farmer Brothers Coffee Company (“Company,” “you” or “your”) and will be governed by the terms and conditions of the Agreement.

Tatum Resource Name: Peter Knepper

 

Service Description or Position:    Financial Consultant
   [Amended February 8, 2010 to position of Chief Financial Officer (Interim)]

Company Supervisor: Chief Executive Officer

Start Date: Friday December 18, 2009

Minimum Term: 2 months

Termination:

(a) After the expiration of any minimum term set forth above, either party may terminate this Schedule by providing the other party a minimum of 15 days’ advance written notice and such termination will be effective as of the date specified in such notice, provided that such date is no earlier than 15 days after the date of delivery of the notice. Tatum will continue to provide, and the Company will continue to pay for, the Services until the termination effective date.

(b) Tatum may terminate this Schedule immediately upon written notice to the Company if: (i) the Company is engaged in or asks Tatum or any Tatum Resource to engage in or ignore any illegal or unethical activity; (ii) the Tatum Resource ceases to be a member or employee of Tatum for any reason; (iii) the Tatum Resource becomes disabled; or (iv) the Company fails to pay any amounts due to us under the Agreement when due. For purposes of this Agreement, disability will be defined by the applicable policy of disability insurance or, in the absence of such insurance, by Tatum’s management acting in good faith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in lieu of terminating this Schedule under (ii) and (iii) above, upon the mutual agreement of the parties, the Tatum Resource may be replaced by another Tatum member or employee.

(c) The termination rights set forth in this section are in addition to and not in lieu of the termination rights set forth in the Agreement.

Fees: You will pay to Tatum a fee of $55,000.00 a month for the Tatum Resource. The fees will be prorated for the first and final fee period based on the number of days in such period.

Billings: Tatum will bill for Services in advance of the provision of such Services as follows:

Upon Execution of Agreement: $28,875.00. On the 15th and last day of each month: $28,875.00.

 

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Permanent Engagement: You will have the opportunity to make the Tatum Resource a permanent, full-time member of the Company at any time during the term of this Schedule by entering into another form of Tatum agreement, the terms of which will be negotiated at such time.

In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of this Schedule and the Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Agreement will control.

 

Tatum, LLC     Farmer Brothers Coffee Company
By:  

/s/ Arthur J. Cohen

    By:  

/s/ Roger M. Laverty

Name:   Arthur J. Cohen     Name:  

Roger M. Laverty

Title:   Area Managing Partner – Southern California     Title:  

CEO

Date:   December 17, 2009     Date:  

12/18/09

 

7

Form of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers

EXHIBIT 10.2

[FORM OF]

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of                     , by and between Farmer Bros. Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                      (“Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) and the Bylaws of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). The Charter, the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Charter, the Bylaws of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Company’s Charter, Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he or she be so indemnified;


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein and Indemnitee’s agreement to serve as a director or officer after the date hereof, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

(a) References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.

(b) The terms “Beneficial Owner” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof.

(c) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

(i) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition;

(ii) Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors on the date hereof or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the “Continuing Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

(iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business Combination;

(iv) Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (or, if such approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or

(v) Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

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(d) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

(e) “Delaware Court” shall mean the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.

(f) “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(g) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.

(h) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(i) “Expenses” shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and disbursements of experts, witness fees, fees and disbursements of private investigators and professional advisors, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone and fax transmission charges, postage, delivery service fees, secretarial services, reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which he is not otherwise compensated for by the Company or any third party, and all other disbursements or expenses in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding or enforcing a right to indemnification under this Agreement. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(j) “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

(k) References to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

(l) The term “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company; (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company including, without limitation, the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan; (iv) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their

 

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ownership of stock of the Company; and (v) Roy F. Farmer, deceased, his widow Emily Farmer and their descendants (collectively, “Farmer Family Members”), the estates of Farmer Family Members and the personal representatives thereof, and trusts, partnerships and other entities created by or for the benefit of Farmer Family Members and the trustees, partners and members thereof.

(m) A “Potential Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) the Company enters into an agreement or arrangement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) any Person or the Company publicly announces an intention to take or consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control; (iii) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 5% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors increases its Beneficial Ownership of such securities by 5% or more over the percentage so owned by such Person on the date hereof; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.

(n) The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by him or of any action (or failure to act) on his part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

(o) The term “Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person.

2. Agreement To Serve. Indemnitee agrees to serve and/or continue to serve as an agent of the Company, at its will (or under separate agreement, if such agreement exists), in the capacity Indemnitee currently serves as an agent of the Company; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to or shall (i) restrict the ability of Indemnitee to resign at any time and for any reason from any current or future position or positions, (ii) create any right to continued employment of Indemnitee in any current or future position or positions, or (iii) restrict the ability of the Company to terminate the employment or agency of Indemnitee at any time and for any reason (subject to compliance with the terms of any employment or other applicable agreement to which the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) and Indemnitee are parties).

3. Indemnification in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

4. Indemnification in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his

 

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behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Delaware Court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such Expenses as the court shall deem proper.

5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

6. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified and held harmless against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.

7. Additional Indemnification

(a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4 or 5, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee if, by reason of his Corporate Status, Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding. No indemnity shall be made under this Section 7(a) on account of Indemnitee’s conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.

(b) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, 5 or 7(a), the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

8. Contribution

(a) Whether or not the indemnification provided in Sections 3, 4, 5 and 7 hereof is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), the Company shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action, suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against Indemnitee. The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.

 

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(b) Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such action, suit or proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the Law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary and the degree to which their conduct is active or passive.

(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

(d) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

9. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

(a) for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity provision or otherwise;

(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

(c) except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(e) and (f) hereof, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law;

(d) for any Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement resulting from Indemnitee’s conduct which is finally adjudged to have been willful misconduct, knowingly fraudulent or deliberately dishonest; or

 

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(e) if a court of competent jurisdiction shall finally determine that any indemnification hereunder is unlawful.

10. Advances of Expenses; Defense of Claim

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, solely upon the execution and delivery to the Company of an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Charter, the Bylaws of the Company, applicable law or otherwise. This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

(b) The Company shall be entitled to participate in any Proceeding at its own expense.

(c) The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

11. Procedure for Notification and Application for Indemnification

(a) Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise.

(b) Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

12. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification

(a) A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of the Board: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board or (ii) by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. The Company promptly shall advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by

 

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Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 1 of this Agreement. Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 1 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by Indemnitee to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Delaware Court, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing). The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.

13. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

 

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(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

(d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

14. Remedies of Indemnitee

(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6, or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, or (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court to such indemnification, contribution or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).

(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

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(d) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

(e) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt of such written request) advance to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee (i) to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Charter, or the Company’s Bylaws now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advance, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

(f) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the legal rate under Delaware law for amounts which the Company indemnifies or is obliged to indemnify for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee requests indemnification, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.

15. Establishment of Trust. In the event of a Potential Change in Control, the Company shall, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a “Trust” for the benefit of Indemnitee and from time to time upon written request of Indemnitee shall fund such Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all Expenses reasonably anticipated at the time of each such request to be incurred in connection with investigating, preparing for, participating in or defending any Proceedings, and any and all judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such judgments, fines penalties and amounts paid in settlement) in connection with any and all Proceedings from time to time actually paid or claimed, reasonably anticipated or proposed to be paid. The trustee of the Trust (the “Trustee”) shall be a bank or trust company or other individual or entity chosen by Indemnitee and reasonably acceptable to the Company. Nothing in this Section 15 shall relieve the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement. The amount or amounts to be deposited in the Trust pursuant to the foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by mutual agreement of Indemnitee and the Company or, if the Company and Indemnitee are unable to reach such an agreement, by Independent Counsel selected in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement. The terms of the Trust shall provide that, except upon the consent of both Indemnitee and the Company, upon a Change in Control: (a) the Trust shall not be revoked or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of Indemnitee; (b) the Trustee shall advance, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, within two (2) business days of a request by Indemnitee and upon the execution and delivery to the Company of an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company, any and all Expenses to Indemnitee; (c) the Trust shall continue to be funded by the Company in accordance with the funding obligations set forth above; (d) the Trustee shall promptly pay to Indemnitee all amounts for which Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise; and (e) all unexpended funds in such Trust shall revert to the Company upon mutual agreement by Indemnitee and the Company or, if Indemnitee and the Company are unable to reach such an agreement, by Independent Counsel selected in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement, that Indemnitee has been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. The Trust shall be governed by Delaware law (without regard to its conflicts of laws rules) and the Trustee shall consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court in accordance with Section 23 of this Agreement.

16. Security. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

 

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17. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation

(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, the Company’s Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Charter, the Company’s Bylaws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b) The DGCL, the Charter and the Company’s Bylaws permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (“Indemnification Arrangements”) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against him or incurred by or on behalf of him or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the DGCL, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement.

(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managing members, fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(d) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

(e) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise.

18. Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of his Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement.

 

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19. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

20. Enforcement and Binding Effect

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company.

(b) Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Charter or Bylaws of the Company as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. If the DGCL or any other applicable law is amended after the date hereof to permit the Company to indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses or liabilities, or to indemnify Indemnitee with respect to any action or Proceeding, not contemplated by this Agreement, then this Agreement (without any further action by either party hereto) shall automatically be deemed to be amended to require that the Company indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

(c) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise at the Company’s request, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

(d) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

(e) The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by the court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking.

 

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21. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

22. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.

(b) If to the Company, to:

Farmer Bros. Co.

20333 South Normandie Avenue

Torrance, CA 90502

Attention: Corporate Secretary

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.

23. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) appoint irrevocably, to the extent such party is not a resident of the State of Delaware, RL&F Service Corp., One Rodney Square, 10th Floor, 10th and King Streets, P.O. Box 551, Wilmington, Delaware 19899 as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware; (d) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court; and (e) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial.

24. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

25. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

FARMER BROS. CO.

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

Name:  
Address:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

14


SCHEDULE OF INDEMNITEES

John M. Anglin

Guenter W. Berger

Kenneth R. Carson

Lewis A. Coffman

Hortensia R. Gomez

Jeanne Farmer Grossman

Michael J. King

Peter B. Knepper

Roger M. Laverty III

Martin A. Lynch

Thomas A. Maloof

James J. McGarry

John H. Merrell

Heidi L. Modaro

John Samore, Jr.

John E. Simmons

Carol Farmer Waite

Drew H. Webb

 

15

Earnings Release

Exhibit 99.1

Farmer Bros. Reports Net Income Per Share of $0.10 For Second Fiscal Quarter 2010

TORRANCE, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Feb. 9, 2010—Farmer Bros. Co. (NASDAQ: FARM) today reported unaudited results for its second fiscal quarter and six months ended Dec. 31, 2009.

 

(millions except per-share data)    Second Quarter     First Six Months  
   Fiscal
2010
   Fiscal
2009
    Fiscal
2010
   Fiscal
2009
 

Net sales

   $ 120.2    $ 76.5      $ 232.4    $ 143.1   

Net income (loss)

   $ 1.4    ($ 0.1   $ 3.6    ($ 6.2

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.10    ($ 0.01   $ 0.25    ($ 0.43

Net sales increased 57%, or $43.7 million, to $120.2 million in the second fiscal quarter compared with last year’s second fiscal quarter. For the first half of fiscal 2010, net sales increased 62%, or $89.3 million, to $232.4 million. These increases were primarily driven by the addition of net sales from the Direct Store Delivery (“DSD”) Coffee Business acquired from Sara Lee Corporation as of Feb. 28, 2009.

“We continue to make steady progress toward our goal of completing the integration of our businesses by the end of fiscal 2010” said Rocky Laverty, President and CEO. “Despite continuing weakness throughout the economy and its impact on our top-line revenue growth, we are taking steps to win more business from our existing customer base, win new customers and capture the expected cost savings and increased operating profits related to the combination of our businesses.”

Gross profit for the second fiscal quarter increased by 37%, to $51.1 million, from $37.3 million in last year’s second fiscal quarter. For the first half of fiscal 2010, gross profit increased 54%, or $37.1 million, to $105.4 million. Gross profit as a percentage of sales, however, decreased in the second fiscal quarter to 42% from last year’s 49% and in the first half of fiscal 2010 gross profit as a percentage of sales decreased to 45% from 48% in the last year’s first half. These changes were primarily due to the DSD acquisition and the expected effect of adding new DSD customers that purchase a different mix of products.

Operating expenses decreased to $56.2 million in the second fiscal quarter of 2010, essentially unchanged from $56.8 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2010. Operating expenses in the second fiscal quarter of 2010 increased by $19.1 million as compared with the second fiscal quarter of 2009, with increases of $14.4 million attributable to the DSD Coffee Business and $2.3 million due to higher pension expenses. During the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2010, the Company charged to expense $2.5 million and $3.8 million, respectively, for the integration of the DSD Coffee Business. The Company estimates that total integration costs during fiscal 2010 will be


approximately $13.0 million, of which approximately $5.0 million is expected to be capitalized.

 

Second Quarter Year-Over-Year Increases

 

Net sales

   57

Cost of goods sold

   76

Operating expenses

   51

The Company reported a loss from operations of ($5.1) million in the second quarter of fiscal 2010 compared with income from operations of $0.2 million in the prior year’s second fiscal quarter. For the first half of fiscal 2010, the Company reported a loss from operations of ($7.6) million compared with a loss from operations of ($4.0) million in the first half of fiscal 2009.

The Company reported an income tax benefit of $2.9 million in the second fiscal quarter of 2010 that is primarily attributable to recent federal legislation allowing a five-year carry-back period for net operating losses incurred in tax years ending in 2008 and 2009. As a result, the Company reported a net income of $1.4 million, or $0.10 per common share, in its second quarter of fiscal 2010 compared with a net loss in the prior year’s second fiscal quarter of $(0.1) million, or $(0.01) per common share. For the first half of fiscal 2010, the Company reported a net income of $3.6 million, or $0.25 per common share, compared with a net loss of $(6.2) million, or $(0.43) per common share, in the first half of the prior fiscal year.

On a non-GAAP basis, the Company generated positive cash flow from operations in the first half of fiscal 2010 of $7.5 million compared with $5.9 million in the first half of fiscal 2009 (please refer to the table, “NON-GAAP OPERATING CASH FLOW,” below). This result included an increase in depreciation and amortization during the first half of fiscal 2010 of 71%, or $5.2 million, to $12.4 million, primarily due to the acquisition of the DSD Coffee Business, the recently completed construction of the Coffee Bean International (“CBI”) facility in Portland, and capital improvements at the Torrance facility. The Company also recorded non-cash charges in the first fiscal half of $2.8 million for share-based compensation, including compensation through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

The Company ended the second fiscal quarter with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $54.4 million, compared with $63.0 million on June 30, 2009. The Company increased its short-term borrowings under its senior secured revolving credit facility to $22.4 million from $16.2 million as of June 30, 2009 and ended the second fiscal quarter with $19.3 million in unused borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility.

About Farmer Bros. Co.

Farmer Bros. Co. is the nation’s largest direct store delivery business for coffee and allied products such as cappuccino, cocoa mixes and spices. It roasts and packages coffee for


more than 10 brands; it processes and packages allied products; it directly delivers its products and services to food service operators and retailers in all 48 contiguous states. It also provides private-label coffee programs to retailers through Coffee Bean Intl., one of the nation’s leading specialty coffee roasters. Farmer Bros. has paid a dividend in every year since 1953, and its stock price has risen on a split-adjusted basis from $1.80 a share in 1980. For more information, go to: www.farmerbros.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release regarding the risks, circumstances and financial trends that may affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows are not based on historical fact and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates and observations of future events and include any statements that do not directly relate to any historical or current fact. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words like “anticipates,” “feels,” “estimates,” “projects,” “expects,” “plans,” “believes,” “intends,” “will,” “assumes” and other words of similar meaning. Owing to the uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to speak only at the time of this press release and does not undertake to update or revise these statements as more information becomes available except as required under federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in availability and cost of green coffee, competition, organizational changes, our ability to successfully integrate the CBI and DSD Coffee Business acquisitions, the impact of a weaker economy, business conditions in the coffee industry and food industry in general, the Company’s continued success in attracting new customers, variances from budgeted sales mix and growth rates, weather and special or unusual events, changes in the quality or dividend stream of the third parties’ securities and other investment vehicles in which the Company has invested its short-term assets, as well as other risks described in this press release and other factors described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses “Non-GAAP operating cash flow” as a measure of the Company’s operating trends. Investors are cautioned that “Non-GAAP operating cash flow” is not a measure of liquidity or of financial performance under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The “Non-GAAP operating cash flow” numbers presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. “Non-GAAP operating cash flow,” while providing useful information, should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income or cash flows as determined under GAAP. Consistent with Regulation G under the U.S. federal securities laws, the non-GAAP measures in this press release have been reconciled to the nearest GAAP measure, and this reconciliation is located under the heading “NON-GAAP OPERATING CASH FLOW” following the Consolidated Statements of Operations included in this press release.

(See financial tables below)


FARMER BROS. CO.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Net sales

   $ 120,225      $ 76,530      $ 232,352      $ 143,053   

Cost of goods sold

     69,133        39,212        126,956        74,784   
                                

Gross profit

     51,092        37,318        105,396        68,269   
                                

Selling expenses

     44,668        30,193        88,966        58,197   

General and administrative expenses

     11,526        6,912        24,031        14,114   
                                

Operating expenses

     56,194        37,105        112,997        72,311   
                                

(Loss) income from operations

     (5,102     213        (7,601     (4,042
                                

Other income (expense)

        

Dividend income

     854        902        1,533        1,949   

Interest income

     935        461        1,028        938   

Interest expense

     (1,026     —          (1,165     —     

Other, net income (expense)

     2,905        (812     7,366        (10,662
                                

Total other income (expense)

     3,668        551        8,762        (7,775
                                

(Loss) income before taxes

     (1,434     764        1,161        (11,817

Income tax (benefit) expense

     (2,851     870        (2,455     (5,627
                                

Net income (loss)

   $ 1,417      $ (106   $ 3,616      $ (6,190
                                

Basic net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.10      $ (0.01   $ 0.25      $ (0.43
                                

Diluted net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.10      $ (0.01   $ 0.25      $ (0.43
                                

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

     14,721,740        14,480,971        14,692,164        14,455,023   

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

     14,723,380        14,480,971        14,694,059        14,455,023   

Cash dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.115      $ 0.115      $ 0.230      $ 0.230   


NON-GAAP OPERATING CASH FLOW

(In thousands)

 

     Six months ended Dec. 31  
     2009     2008  

GAAP loss from operations

   $ (7,601   $ (4,042

Add non-cash charges:

    

Depreciation & amortization

     12,385        7,256   

ESOP and share based compensation

     2,753        2,680   
                

Non-cash charges

   $ 15,138      $ 9,936   
                

Non-GAAP operating cash flow

   $ 7,537      $ 5,894   
                

CONTACT: Abernathy MacGregor Group

Jim Lucas or Megan Klein, 213-630-6550

SOURCE: Farmer Bros. Co.