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Leading Independent Proxy Advisor Firm Egan-Jones Recommends Farmer Bros. Stockholders Vote “for” Both of Concerned Stockholders’ Director Nominees on the Gold Proxy to Bring Much Needed Change to Company

/EIN News/ -- 59% Share Price Decline Over Past Three Years Attributed to Lack of Strategic Direction, High Management Turn-Over

Nominees Thomas Mortensen and Jonathan Waite “Will Be a Significant Contribution” to Board

Grossman Calls Out Company for Using Personal Attacks and False Narratives to Distract from Abysmal Financial, Management, and Board Oversight/Accountability Record

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jeanne Farmer Grossman (individually and as the sole trustee of certain trusts), Thomas William Mortensen, and Jonathan Michael Waite (collectively, the “Concerned Stockholders”), who together beneficially own approximately 4.9% of the outstanding common stock of Farmer Bros. Co. (“Farmer Bros.” or the “Company”), today announced that Egan-Jones Proxy Services, a leading independent proxy advisory service, recommends that stockholders vote for both of Concerned Stockholders’ nominees – Thomas Mortensen and Jonathan Michael Waite – on the GOLD proxy card in connection with the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on December 10, 2019.

Recently, proxy advisor service Institutional Shareholders Services raised serious concerns about the Company’s poor performance and “perpetual turnaround” status, and even suggested, “A cynical mind might also view the former CEO as a convenient scapegoat [for the Board], particularly since he was allowed to step down and remained entitled to receive severance, despite what the Board characterized during discussions with ISS as questionable candor.”  

Egan-Jones elaborates further on the current Board’s weaknesses in its December 5, 2019, report, concluding1:

  • “We believe that there is a compelling reason to alter the Board composition as evidenced by the abysmal performance of the Company’s financials coupled with poor management decisions which placed Farmer Bros. in an undesirable state. In our view, the high management turnover is a clear indication that the Company lacks strategic direction, which we believe is the root cause of value destruction.”
     
  • “We believe that the addition of Tom Mortensen and Jonathan Waite, together with the newly [appointed] CEO, will be a significant contribution to the Board, given that its current composition is not the best in class in terms of industry knowledge and experience. Moreover, the addition of the new members will be a true wake up call to emphasize the urgent need for action and change.”
     
  • “In our view, the Company’s recurring mistakes in strategy execution and prioritizing short sighted results should be realigned to efforts which lead to value creation which will maximize shareholders’ interests in the long run.”

In addition, the Concerned Stockholders pointed out that recent statements of support for the entrenched Board attributed to Richard Farmer and promoted by the Company are self-serving, largely misleading and symptomatic of the very issues that have led to decline and value destruction at Farmer Bros. over the past three years.

Jeanne Farmer Grossman stated that she believes that the stockholders and employees of Farmer Bros. have begun to see through the misinformation and false narratives promoted by the Company on behalf of long-tenured directors like Chuck Marcy and Chris Mottern.  With an abysmal track record of share price declines, asset liquidations and talent loss, these entrenched interests must resort to unfounded and mischaracterized attacks on the Group and its two talented, qualified and successful nominees and to exploiting a disgruntled family member in their indecorous battle. 

Nevertheless, Ms. Grossman continues to be hopeful that stockholders recognize that change, even with a new CEO, is unlikely without positive change on the Board.  She urges stockholders to vote for Tom Mortensen and Jonathan Waite, who bring the experience, foresight and trust of employees that the current Board lacks, but are necessary to turn this business around, in stark contrast with the two incumbent directors up for reelection who have amply demonstrated their inability to preserve, let alone create, shareholder value.

Farmer Bros.’ stockholders are urged to elect Tom Mortensen and Jonathan Waite.  Once elected, they will work with the Board and new CEO D. Deverl Maserang II to begin the process of returning Farmer Bros. to the values and principles upon which it was built.

VOTE FOR OUR EXPERIENCED DIRECTORS TO TURN-AROUND FARMER BROS. AND CREATE VALUE

We urge you to vote using only your GOLD PROXY today.

Your support is extremely important.  If you have any questions, please call our proxy solicitor Okapi Partners toll-free at (877) 274-8654 or email info@okapipartners.com.

Please wait until you receive and review the Concerned Stockholders’ proxy materials and GOLD proxy card before you cast your vote in connection with the Annual Meeting.

IMPORTANT

If your shares are held in street name, your bank or broker can vote your shares only upon receipt of your specific instructions. Please contact the person responsible for your account and instruct them that you only wish to vote the GOLD proxy card.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact Okapi Partners at (877) 274-8654 or by e-mail at info@okapipartners.com.

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Okapi Partners LLC
1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor
New York, NY  10036
+1 877-796-5274
info@okapipartners.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Gagnier / Jeffrey Mathews
Gagnier Communications
+1 646-569-5897
farmerbros@gagnierfc.com

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS

The Concerned Stockholders have filed a definitive proxy statement and an accompanying GOLD proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to be used to solicit votes for the election of its nominees at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Farmer Bros. Co.

THE CONCERNED STOCKHOLDERS STRONGLY ADVISE ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO READ THEIR PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH PROXY MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC’S WEB SITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV.  IN ADDITION, THE CONCERNED STOCKHOLDERS WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THEIR PROXY STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE CONCERNED STOCKHOLDERS’ PROXY SOLICITOR, OKAPI PARTNERS, AT ITS TOLL-FREE NUMBER: (877) 274-8654 OR AT INFO@OKAPIPARTNERS.COM.

The participants in the proxy solicitation are: Jeanne Farmer Grossman, the Jeanne Grossman Living Trust, the 1964 Jeanne Ann Farmer Grossman Trust, the 1969 Jeanne Ann Farmer Grossman Trust, the  1972 Jeanne Ann Farmer Grossman Trust, the 1987 Roy F Farmer Trust II, the 1988 Roy F Farmer Trust II, the 1988 Roy F Farmer Trust III, the 1990 Brynn Elizabeth Grossman Trust, and the 1992 Brynn Elizabeth Grossman Trust, Thomas William Mortensen, and Jonathan Michael Waite.

                                                     
1
Permission to use quotations neither sought nor obtained.

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