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2007 Conclusion

Forum activities relating to Farmer Bros. Co. were suspended in 2007, following the second year of new management.

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Forum Report: Second Year of New Management's Performance

(November 12, 2007)

 

 

Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 11:04 AM
Subject: Friday evening report of new management's performance

 

After the close of trading on Friday, Farmer Bros. Co. announced the results of the last quarter and filed its full report in an SEC Form 10-Q.  The press release is copied below, together with a summary of quarterly results from the 10-Q section on “Results of Operations.”

 

The following chart presents quarterly income and losses from operations during the past two years under the company’s new management.  (As reported in the company’s latest proxy statement, Mr. Berger has been serving as Chief Executive Officer since August 11, 2005 and Mr. Laverty has been serving as Chief Operating Officer since July 24, 2006.)

 

 

Highlights of the performance reported for the latest quarter are:

►      Continuing losses from operations

►      Recurring losses from investments, without any clear explanation of the derivative exposure

►      Apparent continuing loss of market share to competitors, in spite of recent investments in geographic expansion and other “growth initiatives”

►      Continuing management promotion of a “national account” marketing strategy in spite of the company’s ability to service only 28 states and its reliance on non-adaptive brewing systems

►      Continuing extension of the schedule for implementing an information technology update[*]

►      Further reduction of the corporate reserve fund to $157 million from the previous quarter’s $171 million (now down to 53% of the $299 million reserve fund the company held 4 years ago, at the end of the first quarter of FY2004)

 

There was no reference in the press release or Form 10-Q report to management’s consideration of strategic alternatives.

 

Please let me know you have any suggestions for further Forum attention to shareholder interests in Farmer Bros. Co.

 

             - GL

 

Gary Lutin
Lutin & Company
575 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Tel: 212/605-0335
Email: gl@shareholderforum.com 

 


 

[*] The information technology update, currently referred to as an “enterprise resource management” or “ERP” system, was first announced at the company’s December 26, 2002 annual meeting as a two year project on which management expected to spend “more than $5 million.”  Two years later, at the December 14, 2004 annual meeting, management reported that “We are, today, about 3/4 complete” and that “we expect it to be operational later in fiscal 2005,” stating that “Our total cost for this project is estimated to be $20 million, with about 3/4 of that expense behind us.”  Recent reports have not included revised budget estimates.

 

 

 

 

 

Farmer Bros. Co., SEC Form 10-Q filed 11/9/07, page 9:

 

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

 

December 31,
2005

 

 

March 31,
2006

 

 

June 30,
2006

 

 

September 30,
2006

 

 

 

 

(In thousands except share data)

 

Net sales

 

$

54,950

 

$

53,561

 

$

50,518

 

$

48,264

 

Gross profit

 

$

33,154

 

$

32,039

 

$

28,465

 

$

28,083

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

$

3,149

 

$

67

 

$

(5,057

)

$

(2,737

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

4,164

 

$

2,463

 

$

(792

)

$

1,013

 

Net income (loss) per common share

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.18

 

$

(0.06

)

$

0.07

 

 

 

 

December 31,
2006

 

 

March 31,
2007

 

 

June 30,

 

 

September 30,
2007

 

 

 

 

(In thousands except share data)

 

Net sales

 

$

55,476

 

$

54,382

 

$

58,137

 

$

60,943

 

Gross profit

 

$

32,481

 

$

31,664

 

$

34,539

 

$

33,847

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

$

1,140

 

$

(2,247

)

$

(232

)

$

(2,528

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,953

 

$

1,512

 

$

1,337

 

$

(953

)

Net income (loss) per common share

 

$

0.21

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.09

 

$

(0.07

)

9

 
 

 

Press Release

Source: Farmer Bros. Co.

Farmer Bros. Reports Loss of $0.07 Per Share for First Quarter of Fiscal 2008
Friday November 9, 4:40 pm ET

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Farmer Bros. Co. (NASDAQ:FARM) today reported a net loss for its first fiscal quarter ended Sept. 30, 2007 of $0.9 million or $0.07 per share, compared with net income in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 of $1.0 million or $0.07 per share.

The Company reported revenues in the first quarter of $60.9 million, up 26.3% from $48.3 million in last year’s first quarter. Most of the gain – $9.6 million or 75.6% of the increase of $12.7 million – was contributed by Coffee Bean Intl. (CBI), which the Company acquired in April 2007. Sales of Farmer Bros. operations, excluding CBI, increased by $3.1 million or 6% compared with the same period last year.

"I am pleased with our continuing progress as we execute our long-term plan for Farmer Brothers’ second century," said Guenter Berger, Chairman and CEO. “We began to launch these initiatives more than half a dozen years ago and I’m proud that we have made so many positive changes to our Company while maintaining the stability of our operations and our high levels of customer service.”

Rocky Laverty, President and CEO designate, noted, "For the past three months we have spent a great deal of time working to align the resources of Farmer Brothers and CBI to fuel the growth we expect. We’re encouraged by the progress we’ve seen in utilizing the strengths of both companies to become even more competitive in our market. We believe our customers, shareholders and employees will reap long-term benefits from these planned investments in our Company’s future.”

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter increased 18.0% to $36.4 million. Approximately 70% of the increase was associated with CBI’s operating expenses. The balance of the increase primarily reflected higher costs for legal fees, compensation costs and information-technology costs that are associated with the multi-year program to upgrade the Company’s computer and information systems.

The Company also reported Other Net Losses in the first quarter of $2.9 million, compared with Other Net Income of $1.3 million in last year’s first quarter. This change primarily reflects the effects on the Company’s interest-bearing investments of the volatility in the sub-prime mortgage securities market. Although the Company has no direct exposure to sub-prime mortgages, its investments are subject to credit and stock market volatility.

The Company ended the first fiscal quarter with cash and short-term investments of $157.4 million, down from $170.6 million on June 30, 2007. The decrease reflects cash investments in property, plant and equipment and inventory.

The Company also reported the following operational highlights during the quarter:

  • Coffee Bean International, based in Portland, Ore. and one of the nation's leading specialty coffee roasters and wholesalers, completed its first full quarter as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. During the quarter, CBI selected a site in Portland for construction of a new facility that will increase CBI’s production capacity and efficiency so it can meet its growing demand. The construction will be funded from internal sources and is expected to cost about $15 million, primarily in fiscal 2008.
  • Having completed major upgrades in its enterprise resource management system, the Company began testing the system’s sales applications, which are designed to help employees be more efficient and effective in serving customers. The Company expects to go live with its route sales system and convert CBI’s systems in the second and third quarters of fiscal 2008.

The Company’s management will discuss the state of the Company and the Company’s strategies for the future at the annual meeting of stockholders at the Company’s headquarters on Dec. 6, 2007. The Company will provide a written record of management’s presentation on its web site after the meeting.

About Farmer Bros.

Farmer Bros. Co. is an institutional coffee roaster that sells a variety of coffee and allied products to the food service industry and private-label customers such as retailers. The Company's signature Farmer Bros. trucks and vans bearing the "Consistently Good" logo are seen throughout Farmer Brothers' 28-state service area. The Company's wholly owned Coffee Bean Intl. is one of the nation's leading specialty coffee roasters and wholesalers. Farmer Brothers has paid a dividend in every year since 1953, increased its dividend in every year since 1997, and its stock price has risen on a split-adjusted basis from $1.80 a share in 1980. For more information, go to: www.farmerbroscousa.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. We intend these forward-looking statements to speak only at the time of this report and do 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 Acquisition, 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, and weather and special or unusual events, as well as other risks described in this press release and the quarterly reports filed by the Company on Form 10-Q and the annual report filed by the Company on Form 10-K and other factors described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC.

FARMER BROS. CO.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

 

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Sales

 

$

60,943

 

 

$

48,264

 

Cost of goods sold

 

 

27,096

 

 

 

20,181

 

Gross Profit

 

$

33,847

 

 

$

28,083

 

Selling Expense

 

 

28,475

 

 

 

24,664

 

General and Administrative expenses

 

 

7,900

 

 

 

6,156

 

Operating Expenses

 

$

36,375

 

 

$

30,820

 

Loss from operations

 

 

($2,528

)

 

 

($2,737

)

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Dividend income

 

 

1,027

 

 

 

956

 

    Interest income

 

 

1,259

 

 

 

1,460

 

    Other, net (expense) income

 

 

(2,894

)

 

 

1,304

 

            Total other (expense) income

 

 

($608

)

 

$

3,720

 

(Loss) income before taxes

 

 

(3,136

)

 

 

983

 

Income Tax (benefit)

 

 

(2,183

)

 

 

(30

)

Net (loss) income

 

 

($953

)

 

$

1,013

 

Net (loss) income per common share

 

 

($0.07

)

 

$

0.07

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

14,197,414

 

 

 

14,020,523

 


Contact:

Abernathy MacGregor Group
Jim Lucas, 213-630-6550

Source: Farmer Bros. Co.

 

 

 

The Forum is open to all Farmer Bros. shareholders, whether institutional or individual, and to professionals concerned with their investment decisions.  Its purpose is to provide shareholders with access to information and a free exchange of views on issues relating to their evaluations of alternatives.  As stated in the Forum's Conditions of Participation, participants are expected to make independent use of information obtained through the Forum, subject to the privacy rights of other participants.  It is a Forum rule that participants will not be identified or quoted without their explicit permission.

There is no charge for participation.  Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC, the manager of funds owning approximately 12.6% of Farmer Bros. shares, provided initial sponsorship for the Forum and arranged for it to be chaired by Gary Lutin.  Continuing support and guidance of the Forum is provided by an Advisory Panel of actively interested shareholders.

For additional information or to be included in an email distribution list, send an inquiry to farm@shareholderforum.com.