Request for Board Rescheduling of January
21, 2004 Shareholders Meeting
(January 13, 2004)
Copied below is the text of a letter sent to the directors of
Farmer Bros. on January 13, 2003, asking them to postpone the annual meeting,
then scheduled for January 21, 2004, to allow shareholders a reasonable period
of time to consider their voting decisions.
Additional information about
actions announced by the company on December 24, 2003 had been requested in
a December 30, 2003 letter and a
January 12, 2004 demand for records.
At the time of the letter copied below, the company had not responded to these
requests.
[letterhead]
LUTIN & COMPANY
575 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Telephone (212) 605-0335
Facsimile (212) 605-0325
January 13, 2004
By telecopier: 310/320-2436
Messrs. Guenter W. Berger,
Lewis A. Coffman,
Roy E. Farmer,
Roy F. Farmer,
Thomas Maloof,
John H. Merrell, and
John Samore, Jr.
c/o Farmer Bros. Co.
20333 South Normandie Avenue
Torrance, California 90502
To the members of the board of directors of Farmer Bros. Co.:
It is assumed that you will postpone the company's annual
meeting to a date that will allow shareholders a reasonable period of time
to make fully informed decisions about the matters to be presented for
voting.
This need for additional time may also present an opportunity
for you to consider actions which would more clearly demonstrate
management's commitment to the interests of all the company's shareholders.
Although there have been many very encouraging developments during the past
year, other developments raised questions about management's fundamental
respect of public investors. Resolving these questions would be of great
value to management as well as shareholders.
My own view is that the past year's changes show that the board
recognizes the need to manage Farmer Bros. for the benefit of its
shareholders. I would like to see you convince all of the company's
shareholders that they can rely on the board for this purpose.
Sincerely yours,
Gary Lutin
cc: John M. Anglin, Esquire
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