Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

(Farmer Bros. Co. / Robson)

                                            

This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of February 17, 2017 between FARMER BROS. CO., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and DAVID ROBSON (“Robson”), who agree as follows:

1.     Employment : The Company hereby employs Robson, and Robson accepts employment from the Company, on the terms and conditions herein stated.

2.     Term of Employment: The term of Robson’s employment under this Agreement will commence on February 20, 2017 (the “Commencement Date”) and shall end when terminated under Section 7 below.

3.     Duties : Robson shall serve as the Company’s Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). As such, his general responsibilities include oversight responsibility for all financial (including treasury functions), accounting, and compliance functions of the Company. Compliance responsibilities include oversight responsibility for compliance with the Company’s obligations under tax, securities and other applicable laws. Robson shall also serve as the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer under the Company’s Code of Conduct and Ethics upon request of the Board. In addition to his general responsibilities, Robson shall also perform such other duties as are consistent with his position and as are directed by the Company’s CEO or Board of Directors (“Board”). Robson shall devote to the Company’s business substantially all of his working time. Service as a director of organizations shall require approval of the Board.

4.     Base Salary : Robson shall receive an annual base salary of $350,000 payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practice. The base salary amount shall be reviewed annually by the Company and can be adjusted upward or downward by the Company from time to time but shall not be reduced below $350,000 per annum.

5.     Bonuses : Robson shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, or any successor plan (“Plan”) each year, commencing with the Company’s 2017 fiscal year, so long as the Plan remains in effect and one or more of the Company’s other executive officers who are full-time Company employees (“Senior Executives”) also participate. Under the terms of the Plan, the Compensation Committee will, in its discretion, determine the Performance Criteria, as defined in the Plan, and all other variables by which Robson’s bonus for such year under the Plan will be measured. The Target Award, as defined in the Plan, shall be an amount equal to seventy percent (70%) (the “Applicable Percentage”) of Robson’s base annual salary, except that the Applicable Percentage for fiscal 2017 shall be prorated based on Robson’s Commencement Date. The Applicable Percentage can be adjusted upward or downward by the Company from time to time but shall not be reduced below 70%. Performance Criteria for Robson’s fiscal 2017 Target Award shall be determined by the Compensation Committee after the Commencement Date. Except as provided otherwise in this Section 5, Robson’s participation in the Plan is subject to all Plan terms and conditions. Under the terms of the Plan, no bonus is earned until awarded by the Compensation Committee after completion of the fiscal year, and the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, reduce, entirely eliminate, or increase the bonus indicated by the Performance Criteria and other Plan factors. Robson acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

A.    The Company will provide to Robson all benefits and perquisites provided by the Company from time to time to its Senior Executives, subject to the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of the benefit plans and perquisite policies. For the avoidance of doubt, Robson’s benefit package initially includes twenty (20) paid days off per contract year (i.e., the year ending on each anniversary of the Commencement Date) but excludes participation in the Company’s defined benefit pension plan. Other included benefits and perquisites presently consist of group health insurance (PPO or HMO), life insurance, 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership plan, cell phone, company credit card, expense reimbursement, and an automobile allowance in accordance with Company policy for Senior Executives, which is currently $400.00 per month. Not all of the foregoing benefits are 100% Company paid.

B.    Robson shall be entitled to participate in the Farmer Bros. Co. Amended and Restated 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”), or any successor plan as administered by the Compensation Committee. In accordance with the provisions of the Equity Plan, on the Commencement Date or, if such day falls within a blackout period under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy (“Blackout Period”), on the first business day following the end of such Blackout Period (the “Award Date”), the Company will make the following equity awards to Robson (collectively, the “Awards”):

(i)    a number of non-qualified stock options determined by dividing $60,000 by the per share fair value of a non-qualified stock option (based on a Black-Scholes valuation or other appropriate option pricing methodology approved by the Compensation Committee); and

(ii)    a number of shares of restricted stock determined by dividing $30,000 by the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Equity Plan) on the Award Date.

The stock options will have a seven (7) year term with an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value on the Award Date. Provided Robson is then employed by the Company, the Awards will vest as follows: (i) the stock option award will vest ratably over three years on each anniversary of the Award Date; and (ii) the restricted stock award will vest in its entirety on the third anniversary of the Award Date. The Awards will be evidenced by a Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement or Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Agreement, as applicable, to be consistent with this Section 6B and in the Company’s usual form. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the timing of the Awards will be delayed during such period as there exists, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, material information concerning the Company which has not been publicly disclosed. Robson shall be entitled to such future grants under the Equity Plan or any successor plan as are awarded to him by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. Thereafter the amount of any annual grants under the Equity Plan (or any successor plan) shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion, with the expectation that the value of each annual award (in the aggregate) shall be equal to or greater than $250,000.

C.    The Company shall provide Robson with a relocation program through AIReS Relocation.

D.    The Company reserves the right to alter or discontinue any or all such benefits and perquisites, provided they are so altered or discontinued as to all Senior Executives.

7.     Termination:

A.    Robson’s employment is terminable by the Company for good and sufficient cause (“Cause”) which shall consist only of: (i) a repeated refusal to follow reasonable directions from the CEO

or Board after a warning; (ii) a material breach of any of Robson’s fiduciary duties to the Company (a breach involving dishonesty or personal gain shall be deemed material regardless of the amount involved); (iii) conviction of a felony; (iv) commission of a willful violation of any law, rule or regulation involving moral turpitude; (v) commission of a willful or grossly negligent act, omission or course of conduct which has a material adverse effect on the Company; or (vi) commission of a material breach by Robson of this Agreement which breach, if curable, is not cured within a reasonable time after written notice from the CEO or Board describing the nature of the breach in reasonable detail.

B.    Robson’s employment shall terminate upon Robson’s resignation, with or without “Good Reason,” as defined below, death or “Permanent Incapacity” (as defined below). “Permanent Incapacity” shall be deemed to have occurred if Robson has been unable to perform substantially all of his employment duties under Section 3 on a substantially full-time basis by reason of a mental or physical condition for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days or for more than one hundred eighty days (180) in any period of three hundred sixty-five (365) consecutive days. “Good Reason” shall consist only of (i) the Company’s material breach of this Agreement; (ii) a material reduction in Robson’s responsibilities, duties, or authority; or (iii) a material relocation of Robson’s principal place of employment more than fifty (50) miles; provided, however, that any such condition in subsections (i) through (iii) shall not constitute “Good Reason” unless both (x) Robson provides written notice to the Company describing the condition claimed to constitute Good Reason in reasonable detail within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of such condition, and (y) the Company fails to remedy such condition within thirty (30) days of receiving such written notice thereof; and provided, further, that in all events the termination of Robson’s employment with the Company shall not be treated as a resignation for “Good Reason” unless such resignation occurs not more than one (1) year following the initial existence of the condition claimed to constitute “Good Reason.”

C.    Robson’s employment shall terminate at the election of the Company at any time without Cause.

8.     Payments upon Termination: The following amounts are payable upon termination of Robson’s employment, as applicable:

A.    In the event of a termination for any reason, base salary at the then existing rate, shall be prorated and paid through the effective termination date, along with accrued and unused paid days off (subject to the Company’s paid days off policy). If termination is due to Robson’s death or Permanent Incapacity, the Company shall also pay to Robson upon termination, or his estate in the event of his death, an additional lump sum severance amount equal to Robson’s Target Award under Section 5 for the fiscal year in which termination is effective, prorated for the partial fiscal year ending on the effective termination date. Such payment shall be made no later than the 30 ^th day following any such death or termination.

B.    If termination occurs at the election of the Company without Cause or by Robson’s resignation for Good Reason, Robson will receive as severance:

(i)    base salary continuation at the rate in effect on the date of termination for a period of twelve (12) months;

(ii)    partially Company-paid COBRA coverage under the Company’s health care plan for himself and his spouse for one (1) year after the effective termination date (the Company will pay the same percentage of the coverage cost that it would have paid had Robson’s employment not terminated); and

(iii)    a bonus for the fiscal year in which the date of termination is effective based on Robson’s Target Award under Section 5 for such fiscal year and the degree of achievement of Performance Criteria under the Plan for such fiscal year as determined in accordance with the Plan, with individual Performance Criteria deemed to be achieved at 100%, and prorated for the partial fiscal year ending on the effective termination date.

(iv)     Robson is not obligated to seek other employment as a condition to receipt of the payments called for by this Section 8B, and Robson’s earnings, income or profits from other employment or business activities after termination of his employment shall not reduce the Company’s payment obligations under this Section 8B. Subject to Section 8C and Section 12J(ii), the amount referred to in clause 8B(i) above shall be paid in installments in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices commencing in the month following the month in which Robson’s Separation from Service occurs, and the amount referred to in clause 8B(iii) above, if any, shall be paid in a lump sum at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to the Company’s Senior Executives under the Plan for the fiscal year but in no event later than two and one-half (2-1/2) months following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which Robson’s Separation from Service occurs. As used herein, a “Separation from Service” occurs when Robson dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with the Company that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1), without regard to the optional alternative definitions available thereunder. Salary continuation payments shall commence, and the additional severance amount shall be paid, only when the release required by Section 8C below has become effective.

C.    As a condition to receiving the applicable payments under Section 8B above, Robson must execute and deliver to the Company within twenty-one (21) days following the date of his termination of his employment (or such longer period as may be required under applicable law) a general release of claims against the Company other than claims to the payments called for by this Agreement, such release to be in form and content substantially as attached hereto as Exhibit A , and said release shall have become effective under applicable laws, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended.

D.    All benefits other than the entitlement to payments under Section 8B shall terminate automatically upon termination of Robson’s employment except to the extent otherwise provided in the Company benefit plans or by law.

E.    Except as provided in this Section 8 or by applicable Company benefit plans or laws, Robson shall not be entitled to any payments of any kind in connection with the termination of his employment by the Company.

9.     Employee Handbook and Company Policies : So long as he is employed by the Company, Robson shall comply with, and shall be entitled to rights as set forth in the Company’s Employee Handbook which may be revised from time to time and other Company policies as in effect and communicated to Robson from time to time. In the event that there is a conflict or contradiction between the contents of the Employee Handbook or other such Company policies and the provisions of this Agreement, then the provisions of this Agreement will prevail.

10.     Confidential Information, Intellectual Property:

A .     Robson acknowledges that during the course of his employment with the Company, he will be given or will have access to non-public and confidential business information of the Company which will include information concerning pending or potential transactions, financial information concerning the Company, information concerning the Company’s product formulas and processes,

information concerning the Company’s business plans and strategies, information concerning Company personnel and vendors, and other non-public proprietary information of the Company (all collectively called “Confidential Information”). All of the Confidential Information constitutes “trade secrets” under the Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Robson covenants and agrees that during and after the term of his employment by the Company he will not disclose such information or any part thereof to anyone outside the Company or use such information for any purpose other than the furtherance of the Company’s interests without the prior written consent of the CEO or Board.

B.    Robson further covenants that for a period of two (2) years after his employment by the Company terminates, he will not, directly or indirectly, overtly or tacitly, induce, attempt to induce, solicit or encourage (i) any customer or prospective customer of the Company to cease doing business with, or not to do business with, the Company or (ii) any employee of the Company to leave the Company.

C.    The Company and Robson agree that the covenants set forth in this Section 10 are reasonably necessary for the protection of the Company’s Confidential Information and that a breach of the foregoing covenants will cause the Company irreparable damage not compensable by monetary damages, and that in the event of such breach or threatened breach, at the Company’s election, an action may be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against such breach or threatened breach notwithstanding the arbitration and reference provisions of Section 12F below. Upon the court’s decision on the application for a preliminary injunction, the court action shall be stayed and the remainder of the dispute submitted to arbitration or reference under Section 12F. The prevailing party in such legal action shall be entitled to recover its costs of suit including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

D.    The Company shall own all rights in and to the results, proceeds and products of Robson’s services hereunder, including without limitation, all ideas and intellectual property created or developed by Robson and which are related to Robson’s employment.

11.     Integration with Change in Control Severance Agreement : If Robson becomes eligible for benefits under Section 3 of the Change in Control Severance Agreement executed concurrently herewith, the benefits provided by Section 4 of that Agreement shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, the benefits provided by Section 8B of this Agreement.

12.     Miscellaneous:

A.    This Agreement and the Change in Control Severance Agreement and Indemnification Agreement entered into concurrently herewith contain the entire agreement of the parties on the subject of Robson’s employment by the Company, all prior and contemporaneous agreements, promises or understandings being merged herein. This Agreement can be modified only by a writing signed by both parties hereto.

B.    Robson cannot assign this Agreement or delegate his duties hereunder. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their heirs, personal representatives, successors, and assigns.

C.    No waiver of any provision or consent to any exception to the terms of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party to be bound, and then only to the specific purpose, extent, and instance so provided. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by facsimile signature), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

D.    Each party shall execute and deliver such further instruments and take such other action as may be necessary or appropriate to consummate the transactions herein contemplated and to carry out the intent of the parties hereto.

E.    This Agreement shall be construed in a fair and reasonable manner and not pursuant to any principle requiring that ambiguities be strictly construed against the party who caused same to exist.

F.    (i)    All disputes arising under or in connection with this Agreement, shall be submitted to a mutually agreeable arbitrator, or if the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator within fifteen (15) days after a written demand for arbitration is made by either party, to the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) or successor organization, for binding arbitration in Tarrant County, Texas by a single arbitrator who shall be a lawyer licensed in the State of Texas and certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law. Except as may be otherwise provided herein, the arbitration shall be conducted pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act and under the rules of the American Arbitration Association for the Resolution of Employment Disputes. The arbitration hearing shall be commenced within ninety (90) days after the selection of an arbitrator by mutual agreement or, absent such mutual agreement, the filing of the application with AAA by either party hereto, and a decision shall be rendered by the arbitrator within thirty (30) days after the conclusion of the hearing. The arbitrator shall award costs of the proceeding, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the arbitrator’s fee and costs, to the party determined to have substantially prevailed. Judgment on the award can be entered in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(ii)    The foregoing notwithstanding, if the amount in controversy exceeds $200,000, exclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs, the matter shall be litigated in a district court located in Tarrant County, Texas as a non-jury civil action. The parties hereto expressly waive a trial by jury.

G.    Payments to Robson are subject to payroll deductions and withholdings if and to the extent required by law. Salary payments will be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by payments received by Robson for disability under governmental or Company paid disability insurance programs. Payments to Robson under Section 8B are conditioned upon his continuing compliance with Sections 10A and 10B.

H.    All provisions of this Agreement which must survive the termination of this Agreement to give them their intended effect shall so survive.

I.    If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be unenforceable as illegal or contrary to public policy, it shall be deemed automatically amended to the extent necessary to render it enforceable provided the intent of the parties as expressed herein will not thereby be frustrated. Otherwise the unenforceable provision shall be severed from the remaining provisions which shall remain in effect.

J.    (i)    It is intended that any amounts payable under this Agreement shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (including the Treasury regulations and other published guidance relating thereto) (“Code Section 409A”) so as not to subject Robson to payment of any additional tax, penalty or interest imposed under Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted to avoid the imputation of any such additional tax, penalty or interest under Code Section 409A yet preserve (to the nearest extent reasonably possible) the intended benefit payable to Robson.

(ii)    Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if Robson is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of the date of Robson’s Separation from Service, Robson shall not be entitled to any payment or benefit pursuant to Section 8B that constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A until the earlier of (i)

the date which is six (6) months after Robson’s Separation from Service for any reason other than death, or (ii) the date of Robson’s death. Any such deferred compensation amounts otherwise payable to Robson upon or in the six (6) month period following Robson’s Separation from Service that are not so paid by reason of this Section 12J(ii) shall be paid (without interest) as soon as practicable (and in all events within thirty (30) days) after the date that is six (6) months after Robson’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, as soon as practicable, and in all events within thirty (30) days, after the date of Robson’s death). Each salary or bonus payment made pursuant to Section 8 shall be considered a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Section 12J(ii) shall only apply if, and to the extent, required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Code Section 409A.

(iii)    To the extent that any benefits pursuant to Section 8B(ii) or reimbursements pursuant to Section 6 are taxable to Robson, any reimbursement payment due to Robson pursuant to such provision shall be paid to Robson on or before the last day of Robson’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the related expense was incurred. The benefits and reimbursements pursuant to such provisions are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit and the amount of such benefits and reimbursements that Robson receives in one taxable year shall not affect the amount of such benefits or reimbursements that Robson receives in any other taxable year.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

COMPANY:                 FARMER BROS. CO.,

a Delaware corporation

By:     /s/ Michael H. Keown            

Michael H. Keown

President and Chief Executive Officer

ROBSON:

By:     /s/ David Robson            

David Robson

EXHIBIT A

RELEASE AGREEMENT

                                        

I understand that my position with Farmer Bros. Co. (the “Company”) terminated effective ___________, 20__ (the “Separation Date”). The Company has agreed that if I choose to sign this Agreement, the Company will pay me severance benefits (minus the standard withholdings and deductions) pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement entered into as of February 17, 2017 between myself and the Company. I understand that I am not entitled to this severance payment unless I sign this Agreement. I understand that in addition to this severance, the Company will pay me all of my accrued salary and paid days off, to which I am entitled by law regardless of whether I sign this release.

In consideration for the severance payment I am receiving under this Agreement, I acknowledge and agree that I am bound by the provisions of Sections 10A and 10B of my Employment Agreement and hereby release the Company and its current and former officers, directors, agents, attorneys, employees, stockholders, and affiliates from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, attorneys’ fees, damages, or obligations of every kind and nature, whether they are known or unknown, arising at any time prior to the date I sign this Agreement. This general release includes, but is not limited to: all federal and state statutory and common law claims related to my employment or the termination of my employment or related to breach of contract, tort, wrongful termination, discrimination, wages or benefits, or claims for any form of compensation. This release is not intended to release any claims I have or may have against any of the released parties for (a) indemnification as a director, officer, agent or employee under applicable law, charter document or agreement, (b) severance and other termination benefits specifically provided for in my Employment Agreement which constitutes a part of the consideration for this release, (c) health or other insurance benefits based on claims already submitted or which are covered claims properly submitted in the future, (d) vested rights under pension, retirement or other benefit plans, or (e) in respect of events, acts or omissions occurring after the date of this Release Agreement.

I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights I may have under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”). I also acknowledge that the consideration given for the waiver in the above paragraph is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I have been advised by this writing, as required by the ADEA that: (a) my waiver and release do not apply to any claims that may arise after my signing of this Agreement; (b) I should consult with an attorney prior to executing this release; (c) I have at least twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this release (although I may choose to voluntarily execute this release earlier); (d) I have seven (7) days following the execution of this release to revoke the Agreement; and (e) this Agreement will not be effective until the eighth day after this Agreement has been signed both by me and by the Company.

I accept and agree to the terms and conditions stated above:

                                     

David Robson

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

(Farmer Bros. Co. / Iobst)

                                            

This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of February 17, 2017 between FARMER BROS. CO., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ELLEN IOBST (“Iobst”), who agree as follows:

1.     Employment : The Company hereby employs Iobst, and Iobst accepts employment from the Company, on the terms and conditions herein stated.

2.     Term of Employment: The term of Iobst’s employment under this Agreement will commence on February 20, 2017 (the “Commencement Date”) and shall end when terminated under Section 7 below.

3.     Duties : Iobst shall serve as the Company’s Chief Operations Officer, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). As such, her general responsibilities include general management and leadership of the Company’s organization including strategy, planning, organizational design, and process improvement. In addition to her general responsibilities, Iobst shall also perform such other duties as are consistent with her position and as are directed by the Company’s CEO or Board of Directors (“Board”). Iobst shall devote to the Company’s business substantially all of her working time. Service as a director of organizations shall require approval of the Board. Iobst shall not be required to relocate as part of her employment, however, she will spend at least fifty (50) percent of her working time at the Company’s corporate headquarters in Northlake, Texas. Working time is defined as Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. but excludes any time when Iobst is traveling to visit other Company locations, vendors and customers.

4.     Base Salary : Iobst shall receive an annual base salary of $335,000 payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practice. The base salary amount shall be reviewed annually by the Company and can be adjusted upward or downward by the Company from time to time but shall not be reduced below $335,000 per annum.

5.     Bonuses :

A.    Iobst shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, or any successor plan (“Plan”) each year, commencing with the Company’s 2017 fiscal year, so long as the Plan remains in effect and one or more of the Company’s other executive officers who are full-time Company employees (“Senior Executives”) also participate. Under the terms of the Plan, the Compensation Committee will, in its discretion, determine the Performance Criteria, as defined in the Plan, and all other variables by which Iobst’s bonus for such year under the Plan will be measured. The Target Award, as defined in the Plan, shall be an amount equal to sixty percent (60%) (the “Applicable Percentage”) of Iobst’s base annual salary, except that the Applicable Percentage for fiscal 2017 shall be prorated based on Iobst’s Commencement Date. The Applicable Percentage can be adjusted upward or downward by the Company from time to time but shall not be reduced below 60%. Performance Criteria for Iobst’s fiscal 2017 Target Award shall be determined by the Compensation Committee after the Commencement Date. Except as provided otherwise in this Section 5A, Iobst’s participation in the Plan is subject to all Plan terms and conditions. Under the terms of the Plan, no bonus is earned until awarded by the Compensation Committee after completion of the fiscal year, and the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, reduce, entirely eliminate, or increase the bonus indicated by the Performance Criteria and other Plan factors. Iobst acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan. In the event of Iobst’s Retirement (defined herein), the Target Award shall be an amount equal to the Applicable Percentage of Iobst’s base

annual salary prorated based on the percentage of that fiscal year during which Iobst worked prior to the effective date of her Retirement.

A.    The Company will provide to Iobst all benefits and perquisites provided by the Company from time to time to its Senior Executives, subject to the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of the benefit plans and perquisite policies. For the avoidance of doubt, Iobst’s benefit package initially includes twenty (20) days paid days off per contract year (i.e., the year ending on each anniversary of the Commencement Date) but excludes participation in the Company’s defined benefit pension plan. Other included benefits and perquisites presently consist of group health insurance (PPO or HMO), life insurance, 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership plan, cell phone, company credit card, expense reimbursement, and an automobile allowance in accordance with Company policy for Senior Executives, which is currently $400.00 per month. Not all of the foregoing benefits are 100% Company paid.

B.    Iobst shall be entitled to participate in the Farmer Bros. Co. Amended and Restated 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”), or any successor plan as administered by the Compensation Committee. In accordance with the provisions of the Equity Plan, on the Commencement Date or, if such day falls within a blackout period under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy (“Blackout Period”), on the first business day following the end of such Blackout Period (the “Award Date”), the Company will make the following equity awards to Iobst (collectively, the “Awards”):

(i)    a number of non-qualified stock options determined by dividing $48,000 by the per share fair value of a non-qualified stock option (based on a Black-Scholes valuation or other appropriate option pricing methodology approved by the Compensation Committee); and

(ii)    a number of shares of restricted stock determined by dividing $24,000 by the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Equity Plan) on the Award Date.

The stock options will have a seven (7) year term with an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value on the Award Date. Provided Iobst is then employed by the Company, the Awards will vest as follows: (i) the stock option award will vest ratably over three years on each anniversary of the Award Date; and (ii) the restricted stock award will vest in its entirety on the third anniversary of the Award Date. The Awards will be evidenced by a Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement or Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Agreement, as applicable, to be consistent with this Section 6B and in the Company’s usual form. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the timing of the Awards will be delayed during such period as there exists, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, material information concerning the Company which has not been publicly disclosed. Iobst shall be entitled to such future grants under the Equity Plan or any successor plan as are awarded to her by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. Thereafter the amount of any annual grants under the Equity Plan (or any successor plan) shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion, with the expectation that the value of each annual award (in the aggregate, on an annual basis) shall be equal to or greater than $200,000.

C.    The Company reserves the right to alter or discontinue any or all such benefits and perquisites, provided they are so altered or discontinued as to all Senior Executives.

D.    The Company shall pay the initial relocation for Iobst in accordance with the Relocation Policy for the AIReS Relocation under Renters Policy.

7.     Termination:

A.    Iobst’s employment is terminable by the Company for good and sufficient cause (“Cause”) which shall consist only of: (i) a repeated refusal to follow reasonable directions from the CEO or Board after receipt of a warning and a five (5) business day opportunity to cure; (ii) a material breach of any of Iobst’s fiduciary duties to the Company (a breach involving dishonesty or personal gain shall be deemed material regardless of the amount involved); (iii) conviction of a felony; (iv) commission of a willful violation of any law, rule or regulation involving moral turpitude; (v) commission of a willful or grossly negligent act, omission or course of conduct which has a material adverse effect on the Company; or (vi) commission of a material breach by Iobst of this Agreement which breach, if curable, is not cured within a reasonable time after written notice from the CEO or Board describing the nature of the breach in reasonable detail.

B.    Iobst’s employment shall terminate upon Iobst’s resignation, with or without “Good Reason,” as defined below, death or “Permanent Incapacity” (as defined below). “Permanent Incapacity” shall be deemed to have occurred if Iobst has been unable to perform substantially all of her employment duties under Section 3 on a substantially full-time basis by reason of a mental or physical condition for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days or for more than one hundred eighty days (180) in any period of three hundred sixty-five (365) consecutive days. “Good Reason” shall consist only of (i) the Company’s material breach of this Agreement; (ii) a material reduction in Iobst’s responsibilities, duties, or authority; or (iii) Iobst’s retirement after being employed by the Company for at least thirty (30) months and only after giving at least one hundred eighty (180) days advance written notice of her election to retire (“Retirement”); provided, however, that any such condition in subsections (i) through (ii) shall not constitute “Good Reason” unless both (x) Iobst provides written notice to the Company describing the condition claimed to constitute Good Reason in reasonable detail within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of such condition, and (y) the Company fails to remedy such condition within thirty (30) days of receiving such written notice thereof; and provided, further, that in all events the termination of Iobst’s employment with the Company shall not be treated as a resignation for “Good Reason” unless such resignation occurs not more than one (1) year following the initial existence of the condition claimed to constitute “Good Reason.”

C.    Iobst’s employment shall terminate at the election of the Company at any time without Cause.

8.     Payments upon Termination: The following amounts are payable upon termination of Iobst’s employment, as applicable:

A.    In the event of a termination for any reason, base salary at the then existing rate, shall be prorated and paid through the effective termination date, along with accrued and unused paid days off (subject to the Company’s paid days off policy). If termination is due to Iobst’s death or Permanent Incapacity, the Company shall also pay to Iobst upon termination, or her estate in the event of her death, an additional lump sum severance amount equal to Iobst’s Target Award under Section 5A for the fiscal year in which termination is effective, prorated for the partial fiscal year ending on the effective termination date. Such payment shall be made no later than the 30 ^th day following any such death or termination.

B.    If termination occurs at the election of the Company without Cause or by Iobst’s resignation for Good Reason, Iobst will receive as severance:

(i)    base salary continuation at the rate in effect on the date of termination for a period of twelve (12) months;

(ii)    partially Company-paid COBRA coverage under the Company’s health care plan for herself and her spouse for one (1) year after the effective termination date (the Company will pay the same percentage of the coverage cost that it would have paid had Iobst’s employment not terminated); and

(iii)    a bonus for the fiscal year in which the date of termination is effective based on Iobst’s Target Award under Section 5A for such fiscal year and the degree of achievement of Performance Criteria under the Plan for such fiscal year as determined in accordance with the Plan, with individual Performance Criteria deemed to be achieved at 100%, and prorated for the partial fiscal year ending on the effective termination date.

(iv)    Iobst is not obligated to seek other employment as a condition to receipt of the payments called for by this Section 8B, and Iobst’s earnings, income or profits from other employment or business activities after termination of her employment shall not reduce the Company’s payment obligations under this Section 8B. Subject to Section 8C and Section 12J(ii), the amount referred to in clause 8B(i) above shall be paid in installments in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices commencing in the month following the month in which Iobst’s Separation from Service occurs, and the amount referred to in clause 8B(iii) above, if any, shall be paid in a lump sum at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to the Company’s Senior Executives under the Plan for the fiscal year but in no event later than two and one-half (2-1/2) months following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which Iobst’s Separation from Service occurs. As used herein, a “Separation from Service” occurs when Iobst dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with the Company that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1), without regard to the optional alternative definitions available thereunder. Salary continuation payments shall commence, and the additional severance amount shall be paid, only when the release required by Section 8C below has become effective.

C.    As a condition to receiving the applicable payments under Section 8B above, Iobst must execute and deliver to the Company within twenty-one (21) days following the date of her termination of her employment (or such longer period as may be required under applicable law) a general release of claims against the Company other than claims to the payments called for by this Agreement, such release to be in form and content substantially as attached hereto as Exhibit A, and said release shall have become effective under applicable laws, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended.

D.    All benefits other than the entitlement to payments under Section 8B shall terminate automatically upon termination of Iobst’s employment except to the extent otherwise provided in the Company benefit plans or by law.

E.    Except as provided in this Section 8 or by applicable Company benefit plans or laws, Iobst shall not be entitled to any payments of any kind in connection with the termination of her employment by the Company.

9.     Employee Handbook and Company Policies : So long as she is employed by the Company, Iobst shall comply with, and shall be entitled to rights as set forth in the Company’s Employee Handbook which may be revised from time to time and other Company policies as in effect and communicated to Iobst from time to time. In the event that there is a conflict or contradiction between the contents of the Employee Handbook or other such Company policies and the provisions of this Agreement, then the provisions of this Agreement will prevail.

10.     Confidential Information, Intellectual Property:

A.      Iobst acknowledges that during the course of her employment with the Company, she will be given or will have access to non-public and confidential business information of the Company which will include information concerning pending or potential transactions, financial information concerning the Company, information concerning the Company’s product formulas and processes, information concerning the Company’s business plans and strategies, information concerning Company personnel and vendors, and other non-public proprietary information of the Company (all collectively called “Confidential Information”). All of the Confidential Information constitutes “trade secrets” under the Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Iobst covenants and agrees that during and after the term of her employment by the Company she will not disclose such information or any part thereof to anyone outside the Company or use such information for any purpose other than the furtherance of the Company’s interests without the prior written consent of the CEO or Board.

B.    Iobst further covenants that for a period of two (2) years after her employment by the Company terminates, she will not, directly or indirectly, overtly or tacitly, induce, attempt to induce, solicit or encourage (i) any customer or prospective customer of the Company to cease doing business with, or not to do business with, the Company or (ii) any employee of the Company to leave the Company.

C.    The Company and Iobst agree that the covenants set forth in this Section 10 are reasonably necessary for the protection of the Company’s Confidential Information and that a breach of the foregoing covenants will cause the Company irreparable damage not compensable by monetary damages, and that in the event of such breach or threatened breach, at the Company’s election, an action may be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against such breach or threatened breach notwithstanding the arbitration and reference provisions of Section 12F below. Upon the court’s decision on the application for a preliminary injunction, the court action shall be stayed and the remainder of the dispute submitted to arbitration or reference under Section 12F. The prevailing party in such legal action shall be entitled to recover its costs of suit including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

D.    The Company shall own all rights in and to the results, proceeds and products of Iobst’s services hereunder, including without limitation, all ideas and intellectual property created or developed by Iobst and which are related to Iobst’s employment.

11.     Integration with Change in Control Severance Agreement : If Iobst becomes eligible for benefits under Section 3 of the Change in Control Severance Agreement executed concurrently herewith, the benefits provided by Section 4 of that Agreement shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, the benefits provided by Section 8B of this Agreement.

12.     Miscellaneous:

A.    This Agreement and the Change in Control Severance Agreement and Indemnification Agreement entered into concurrently herewith contain the entire agreement of the parties on the subject of Iobst’s employment by the Company, all prior and contemporaneous agreements, promises or understandings being merged herein. This Agreement can be modified only by a writing signed by both parties hereto.

B.    Iobst cannot assign this Agreement or delegate her duties hereunder. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their heirs, personal representatives, successors, and assigns.

C.    No waiver of any provision or consent to any exception to the terms of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party to be bound, and then only to the specific purpose, extent, and instance so provided. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by facsimile signature), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

D.    Each party shall execute and deliver such further instruments and take such other action as may be necessary or appropriate to consummate the transactions herein contemplated and to carry out the intent of the parties hereto.

E.    This Agreement shall be construed in a fair and reasonable manner and not pursuant to any principle requiring that ambiguities be strictly construed against the party who caused same to exist.

F.    (i)    All disputes arising under or in connection with this Agreement, shall be submitted to a mutually agreeable arbitrator, or if the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator within fifteen (15) days after a written demand for arbitration is made by either party, to the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) or successor organization, for binding arbitration in Tarrant County, Texas by a single arbitrator who shall be a lawyer licensed in the State of Texas and certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law. Except as may be otherwise provided herein, the arbitration shall be conducted pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act and under the rules of the American Arbitration Association for the Resolution of Employment Disputes. The arbitration hearing shall be commenced within ninety (90) days after the selection of an arbitrator by mutual agreement or, absent such mutual agreement, the filing of the application with AAA by either party hereto, and a decision shall be rendered by the arbitrator within thirty (30) days after the conclusion of the hearing. The arbitrator shall award costs of the proceeding, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the arbitrator’s fee and costs, to the party determined to have substantially prevailed. Judgment on the award can be entered in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(ii)    The foregoing notwithstanding, if the amount in controversy exceeds $200,000, exclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs, the matter shall be litigated in a district court located in Tarrant County, Texas as a non-jury civil action. The parties hereto expressly waive a trial by jury.

G.    Payments to Iobst are subject to payroll deductions and withholdings if and to the extent required by law. Salary payments will be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by payments received by Iobst for disability under governmental or Company paid disability insurance programs. Payments to Iobst under Section 8B are conditioned upon her continuing compliance with Sections 10A and 10B.

H.    All provisions of this Agreement which must survive the termination of this Agreement to give them their intended effect shall so survive.

I.    If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be unenforceable as illegal or contrary to public policy, it shall be deemed automatically amended to the extent necessary to render it enforceable provided the intent of the parties as expressed herein will not thereby be frustrated. Otherwise the unenforceable provision shall be severed from the remaining provisions which shall remain in effect.

J.    (i)    It is intended that any amounts payable under this Agreement shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (including the Treasury regulations and other published guidance relating thereto) (“Code Section 409A”) so as not to subject Iobst to payment of any additional tax, penalty or interest imposed under Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted to avoid the imputation of any such additional tax, penalty

or interest under Code Section 409A yet preserve (to the nearest extent reasonably possible) the intended benefit payable to Iobst.

(ii)    Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if Iobst is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of the date of Iobst’s Separation from Service, Iobst shall not be entitled to any payment or benefit pursuant to Section 8B that constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A until the earlier of (i) the date which is six (6) months after Iobst’s Separation from Service for any reason other than death, or (ii) the date of Iobst’s death. Any such deferred compensation amounts otherwise payable to Iobst upon or in the six (6) month period following Iobst’s Separation from Service that are not so paid by reason of this Section 12J(ii) shall be paid (without interest) as soon as practicable (and in all events within thirty (30) days) after the date that is six (6) months after Iobst’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, as soon as practicable, and in all events within thirty (30) days, after the date of Iobst’s death). Each salary or bonus payment made pursuant to Section 8 shall be considered a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Section 12J(ii) shall only apply if, and to the extent, required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Code Section 409A.

(iii)    To the extent that any benefits pursuant to Section 8B(ii) or reimbursements pursuant to Section 6 are taxable to Iobst, any reimbursement payment due to Iobst pursuant to such provision shall be paid to Iobst on or before the last day of Iobst’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the related expense was incurred. The benefits and reimbursements pursuant to such provisions are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit and the amount of such benefits and reimbursements that Iobst receives in one taxable year shall not affect the amount of such benefits or reimbursements that Iobst receives in any other taxable year.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

COMPANY:                 FARMER BROS. CO.,

a Delaware corporation

By:     /s/ Michael H. Keown            

Michael H. Keown

President and Chief Executive Officer

IOBST:

By:     /s/ Ellen D. Iobst            

Ellen Iobst

EXHIBIT A

RELEASE AGREEMENT

                                        

I understand that my position with Farmer Bros. Co. (the “Company”) terminated effective ___________, 20__ (the “Separation Date”). The Company has agreed that if I choose to sign this Agreement, the Company will pay me severance benefits (minus the standard withholdings and deductions) pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement entered into as of February 17, 2017 between myself and the Company. I understand that I am not entitled to this severance payment unless I sign this Agreement. I understand that in addition to this severance, the Company will pay me all of my accrued salary and paid days off, to which I am entitled by law regardless of whether I sign this release.

In consideration for the severance payment I am receiving under this Agreement, I acknowledge and agree that I am bound by the provisions of Sections 10A and 10B of my Employment Agreement and hereby release the Company and its current and former officers, directors, agents, attorneys, employees, stockholders, and affiliates from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, attorneys’ fees, damages, or obligations of every kind and nature, whether they are known or unknown, arising at any time prior to the date I sign this Agreement. This general release includes, but is not limited to: all federal and state statutory and common law claims related to my employment or the termination of my employment or related to breach of contract, tort, wrongful termination, discrimination, wages or benefits, or claims for any form of compensation. This release is not intended to release any claims I have or may have against any of the released parties for (a) indemnification as a director, officer, agent or employee under applicable law, charter document or agreement, (b) severance and other termination benefits specifically provided for in my Employment Agreement which constitutes a part of the consideration for this release, (c) health or other insurance benefits based on claims already submitted or which are covered claims properly submitted in the future, (d) vested rights under pension, retirement or other benefit plans, or (e) in respect of events, acts or omissions occurring after the date of this Release Agreement.

I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights I may have under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”). I also acknowledge that the consideration given for the waiver in the above paragraph is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I have been advised by this writing, as required by the ADEA that: (a) my waiver and release do not apply to any claims that may arise after my signing of this Agreement; (b) I should consult with an attorney prior to executing this release; (c) I have at least twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this release (although I may choose to voluntarily execute this release earlier); (d) I have seven (7) days following the execution of this release to revoke the Agreement; and (e) this Agreement will not be effective until the eighth day after this Agreement has been signed both by me and by the Company.

I accept and agree to the terms and conditions stated above:

                                     

Ellen Iobst

Exhibit 10.3

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

(Farmer Bros. Co. / Siers)

                                    

This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of February 17, 2017 between FARMER BROS. CO., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and SCOTT SIERS (“Siers”), who agree as follows:

1.     Employment : The Company hereby employs Siers, and Siers accepts employment from the Company, on the terms and conditions herein stated.

2.     Term of Employment: The term of Siers’s employment under this Agreement will commence on February 20, 2017 (the “Commencement Date”) and shall end when terminated under Section 7 below.

3.     Duties : Siers shall serve as the Company’s Senior Vice President and General Manager – Direct Ship, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). As such, his general responsibilities include general management and leadership of the Company’s national sales/direct ship organization including strategy, planning, organizational design, and process improvement. In addition to his general responsibilities, Siers shall also perform such other duties as are consistent with his position and as are directed by the Company’s CEO or Board of Directors (“Board”). Siers shall devote to the Company’s business substantially all of his working time. Service as a director of organizations shall require approval of the Board.

4.     Base Salary : Siers shall receive an annual base salary of $290,000 payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practice. The annual base salary amount shall be reviewed annually by the Company and can be adjusted upward or downward by the Company from time to time but shall not be reduced below $290,000 per annum.

5.     Bonuses : Siers shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, or any successor plan (“Plan”) each year, commencing with the Company’s 2017 fiscal year, so long as the Plan remains in effect and one or more of the Company’s other executive officers who are full-time Company employees (“Senior Executives”) also participate. Under the terms of the Plan, the Compensation Committee will, in its discretion, determine the Performance Criteria, as defined in the Plan, and all other variables by which Siers’s bonus for such year under the Plan will be measured. The Target Award, as defined in the Plan, shall be an amount equal to fifty-five percent (55%) (the “Applicable Percentage”) of Siers’s base annual salary, except that the Applicable Percentage for fiscal 2017 shall be prorated based on Siers’s Commencement Date. The Applicable Percentage can be adjusted upward or downward by the Company from time to time but shall not be reduced below 55%. Performance Criteria for Siers’s fiscal 2017 Target Award shall be determined by the Compensation Committee after the Commencement Date. Except as provided otherwise in this Section 5, Siers’s participation in the Plan is subject to all Plan terms and conditions. Under the terms of the Plan, no bonus is earned until awarded by the Compensation Committee after completion of the fiscal year, and the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, reduce, entirely eliminate, or increase the bonus indicated by the Performance Criteria and other Plan factors. Siers acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

A.    The Company will provide to Siers all benefits and perquisites provided by the Company from time to time to its Senior Executives, subject to the eligibility requirements and the terms

and conditions of the benefit plans and perquisite policies. For the avoidance of doubt, Siers’s benefit package initially includes twenty (20) days paid days off per contract year (i.e., the year ending on each anniversary of the Commencement Date) but excludes participation in the Company’s defined benefit pension plan. Other included benefits and perquisites presently consist of group health insurance (PPO or HMO), life insurance, 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership plan, cell phone, company credit card, expense reimbursement, and an automobile allowance in accordance with Company policy for Senior Executives, which is currently $400.00 per month. Not all of the foregoing benefits are 100% Company paid.

B.    Siers shall be entitled to participate in the Farmer Bros. Co. Amended and Restated 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”), or any successor plan as administered by the Compensation Committee. The amount of any annual grants under the Equity Plan (or any successor plan) shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.

C.    The Company reserves the right to alter or discontinue any or all such benefits and perquisites, provided they are so altered or discontinued as to all Senior Executives.

7.     Termination:

A.    Siers’s employment is terminable by the Company for good and sufficient cause (“Cause”) which shall consist only of: (i) a repeated refusal to follow reasonable directions from the CEO or Board after a warning; (ii) a material breach of any of Siers’s fiduciary duties to the Company (a breach involving dishonesty or personal gain shall be deemed material regardless of the amount involved); (iii) conviction of a felony; (iv) commission of a willful violation of any law, rule or regulation involving moral turpitude; (v) commission of a willful or grossly negligent act, omission or course of conduct which has a material adverse effect on the Company; or (vi) commission of a material breach by Siers of this Agreement which breach, if curable, is not cured within a reasonable time after written notice from the CEO or Board describing the nature of the breach in reasonable detail.

B.    Siers’s employment shall terminate upon Siers’s resignation, with or without “Good Reason,” as defined below, death or “Permanent Incapacity” (as defined below). “Permanent Incapacity” shall be deemed to have occurred if Siers has been unable to perform substantially all of his employment duties under Section 3 on a substantially full-time basis by reason of a mental or physical condition for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days or for more than one hundred eighty days (180) in any period of three hundred sixty-five (365) consecutive days. “Good Reason” shall consist only of (i) the Company’s material breach of this Agreement; (ii) a material reduction in Siers’s responsibilities, duties, or authority; or (iii) a material relocation of Siers’s principal place of employment more than fifty (50) miles; provided, however, that any such condition in subsections (i) through (iii) shall not constitute “Good Reason” unless both (x) Siers provides written notice to the Company describing the condition claimed to constitute Good Reason in reasonable detail within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of such condition, and (y) the Company fails to remedy such condition within thirty (30) days of receiving such written notice thereof; and provided, further, that in all events the termination of Siers’s employment with the Company shall not be treated as a resignation for “Good Reason” unless such resignation occurs not more than one (1) year following the initial existence of the condition claimed to constitute “Good Reason.”

C.    Siers’s employment shall terminate at the election of the Company at any time without Cause.

8.     Payments upon Termination: The following amounts are payable upon termination of Siers’s employment, as applicable:

A.    In the event of a termination for any reason, base salary at the then existing rate, shall be prorated and paid through the effective termination date, along with accrued and unused paid days off (subject to the Company’s paid days off policy). If termination is due to Siers’s death or Permanent Incapacity, the Company shall also pay to Siers upon termination, or his estate in the event of his death, an additional lump sum severance amount equal to Siers’s Target Award under Section 5 for the fiscal year in which termination is effective, prorated for the partial fiscal year ending on the effective termination date. Such payment shall be made no later than the 30 ^th day following any such death or termination.

B.    If termination occurs at the election of the Company without Cause or by Siers’s resignation for Good Reason, Siers will receive as severance:

(i)    base salary continuation at the rate in effect on the date of termination for a period of twelve (12) months;

(ii)    partially Company-paid COBRA coverage under the Company’s health care plan for himself and his spouse for one (1) year after the effective termination date (the Company will pay the same percentage of the coverage cost that it would have paid had Siers’s employment not terminated); and

(iii)    a bonus for the fiscal year in which the date of termination is effective based on Siers’s Target Award under Section 5 for such fiscal year and the degree of achievement of Performance Criteria under the Plan for such fiscal year as determined in accordance with the Plan, with individual Performance Criteria deemed to be achieved at 100%, and prorated for the partial fiscal year ending on the effective termination date.

Siers is not obligated to seek other employment as a condition to receipt of the payments called for by this Section 8B, and Siers’s earnings, income or profits from other employment or business activities after termination of his employment shall not reduce the Company’s payment obligations under this Section 8B. Subject to Section 8C and Section 12J(ii), the amount referred to in clause 8B(i) above shall be paid in installments in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices commencing in the month following the month in which Siers’s Separation from Service occurs, and the amount referred to in clause 8B(iii) above, if any, shall be paid in a lump sum at the same time as annual bonuses are paid to the Company’s Senior Executives under the Plan for the fiscal year but in no event later than two and one-half (2-1/2) months following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which Siers’s Separation from Service occurs. As used herein, a “Separation from Service” occurs when Siers dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with the Company that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1), without regard to the optional alternative definitions available thereunder. Salary continuation payments shall commence, and the additional severance amount shall be paid, only when the release required by Section 8C below has become effective.

C.    As a condition to receiving the applicable payments under Section 8B above, Siers must execute and deliver to the Company within twenty-one (21) days following the date of his termination of his employment (or such longer period as may be required under applicable law) a general release of claims against the Company other than claims to the payments called for by this Agreement, such release to be in form and content substantially as attached hereto as Exhibit A, and said release shall have become effective under applicable laws, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended.

D.    All benefits other than the entitlement to payments under Section 8B shall terminate automatically upon termination of Siers’s employment except to the extent otherwise provided in the Company benefit plans or by law.

E.    Except as provided in this Section 8 or by applicable Company benefit plans or laws, Siers shall not be entitled to any payments of any kind in connection with the termination of his employment by the Company.

9.     Employee Handbook and Company Policies : So long as he is employed by the Company, Siers shall comply with, and shall be entitled to rights as set forth in the Company’s Employee Handbook which may be revised from time to time and other Company policies as in effect and communicated to Siers from time to time. In the event that there is a conflict or contradiction between the contents of the Employee Handbook or other such Company policies and the provisions of this Agreement, then the provisions of this Agreement will prevail.

10.     Confidential Information, Intellectual Property:

A .     Siers acknowledges that during the course of his employment with the Company, he will be given or will have access to non-public and confidential business information of the Company which will include information concerning pending or potential transactions, financial information concerning the Company, information concerning the Company’s product formulas and processes, information concerning the Company’s business plans and strategies, information concerning Company personnel and vendors, and other non-public proprietary information of the Company (all collectively called “Confidential Information”). All of the Confidential Information constitutes “trade secrets” under the Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Siers covenants and agrees that during and after the term of his employment by the Company he will not disclose such information or any part thereof to anyone outside the Company or use such information for any purpose other than the furtherance of the Company’s interests without the prior written consent of the CEO or Board.

B.    Siers further covenants that for a period of two (2) years after his employment by the Company terminates, he will not, directly or indirectly, overtly or tacitly, induce, attempt to induce, solicit or encourage (i) any customer or prospective customer of the Company to cease doing business with, or not to do business with, the Company or (ii) any employee of the Company to leave the Company.

C.    The Company and Siers agree that the covenants set forth in this Section 10 are reasonably necessary for the protection of the Company’s Confidential Information and that a breach of the foregoing covenants will cause the Company irreparable damage not compensable by monetary damages, and that in the event of such breach or threatened breach, at the Company’s election, an action may be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against such breach or threatened breach notwithstanding the arbitration and reference provisions of Section 12F below. Upon the court’s decision on the application for a preliminary injunction, the court action shall be stayed and the remainder of the dispute submitted to arbitration or reference under Section 12F. The prevailing party in such legal action shall be entitled to recover its costs of suit including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

D.    The Company shall own all rights in and to the results, proceeds and products of Siers’s services hereunder, including without limitation, all ideas and intellectual property created or developed by Siers and which are related to Siers’s employment.

11.     Integration with Change in Control Severance Agreement : If Siers becomes eligible for benefits under Section 3 of the Change in Control Severance Agreement executed concurrently herewith, the benefits provided by Section 4 of that Agreement shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, the benefits provided by Section 8B of this Agreement.

12.     Miscellaneous:

A.    This Agreement and the Change in Control Severance Agreement and Indemnification Agreement entered into concurrently herewith contain the entire agreement of the parties on the subject of Siers’s employment by the Company, all prior and contemporaneous agreements, promises or understandings being merged herein. This Agreement can be modified only by a writing signed by both parties hereto.

B.    Siers cannot assign this Agreement or delegate his duties hereunder. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their heirs, personal representatives, successors, and assigns.

C.    No waiver of any provision or consent to any exception to the terms of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party to be bound, and then only to the specific purpose, extent, and instance so provided. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by facsimile signature), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

D.    Each party shall execute and deliver such further instruments and take such other action as may be necessary or appropriate to consummate the transactions herein contemplated and to carry out the intent of the parties hereto.

E.    This Agreement shall be construed in a fair and reasonable manner and not pursuant to any principle requiring that ambiguities be strictly construed against the party who caused same to exist.

F.    (i)    All disputes arising under or in connection with this Agreement, shall be submitted to a mutually agreeable arbitrator, or if the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator within fifteen (15) days after a written demand for arbitration is made by either party, to the American Aribtration Association (“AAA”) or successor organization, for binding arbitration in Tarrant County, Texas by a single arbitrator who shall be a lawyer licensed in the State of Texas and certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law. Except as may be otherwise provided herein, the arbitration shall be conducted under the Federal Arbitration Act pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association for the resolution of employment disputes. The arbitration hearing shall be commenced within ninety (90) days after the selection of an arbitrator by mutual agreement or, absent such mutual agreement, the filing of the application with AAA by either party hereto, and a decision shall be rendered by the arbitrator within thirty (30) days after the conclusion of the hearing. The arbitrator shall award costs of the proceeding, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the arbitrator’s fee and costs, to the party determined to have substantially prevailed. Judgment on the award can be entered in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(ii)    The foregoing notwithstanding, if the amount in controversy exceeds $200,000, exclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs, the matter shall be litigated in the Tarrant County District Court as a regular non-jury civil action. The parties hereto expressly waive a trial by jury.

G.    Payments to Siers are subject to payroll deductions and withholdings if and to the extent required by law. Salary payments will be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by payments received by Siers for disability under governmental or Company paid disability insurance programs. Payments to Siers under Section 8B are conditioned upon his continuing compliance with Sections 10A and 10B.

H.    All provisions of this Agreement which must survive the termination of this Agreement to give them their intended effect shall so survive.

I.    If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be unenforceable as illegal or contrary to public policy, it shall be deemed automatically amended to the extent necessary to render it enforceable provided the intent of the parties as expressed herein will not thereby be frustrated. Otherwise the unenforceable provision shall be severed from the remaining provisions which shall remain in effect.

J.    (i)    It is intended that any amounts payable under this Agreement shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (including the Treasury regulations and other published guidance relating thereto) (“Code Section 409A”) so as not to subject Siers to payment of any additional tax, penalty or interest imposed under Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted to avoid the imputation of any such additional tax, penalty or interest under Code Section 409A yet preserve (to the nearest extent reasonably possible) the intended benefit payable to Siers.

(ii)    Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if Siers is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of the date of Siers’s Separation from Service, Siers shall not be entitled to any payment or benefit pursuant to Section 8B that constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A until the earlier of (i) the date which is six (6) months after Siers’s Separation from Service for any reason other than death, or (ii) the date of Siers’s death. Any such deferred compensation amounts otherwise payable to Siers upon or in the six (6) month period following Siers’s Separation from Service that are not so paid by reason of this Section 12J(ii) shall be paid (without interest) as soon as practicable (and in all events within thirty (30) days) after the date that is six (6) months after Siers’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, as soon as practicable, and in all events within thirty (30) days, after the date of Siers’s death). Each salary or bonus payment made pursuant to Section 8 shall be considered a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Section 12J(ii) shall only apply if, and to the extent, required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Code Section 409A.

(iii)    To the extent that any benefits pursuant to Section 8B(ii) or reimbursements pursuant to Section 6 are taxable to Siers, any reimbursement payment due to Siers pursuant to such provision shall be paid to Siers on or before the last day of Siers’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the related expense was incurred. The benefits and reimbursements pursuant to such provisions are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit and the amount of such benefits and reimbursements that Siers receives in one taxable year shall not affect the amount of such benefits or reimbursements that Siers receives in any other taxable year.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

COMPANY:                 FARMER BROS. CO.,

a Delaware corporation

By:     /s/ Michael H. Keown            

Michael H. Keown

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIERS:

By:     /s/ Scott A. Siers                

Scott Siers

EXHIBIT A

RELEASE AGREEMENT

                                

I understand that my position with Farmer Bros. Co. (the “Company”) terminated effective ___________, 20__ (the “Separation Date”). The Company has agreed that if I choose to sign this Agreement, the Company will pay me severance benefits (minus the standard withholdings and deductions) pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement entered into as of February 17, 2017 between myself and the Company. I understand that I am not entitled to this severance payment unless I sign this Agreement. I understand that in addition to this severance, the Company will pay me all of my accrued salary and paid days off, to which I am entitled by law regardless of whether I sign this release.

In consideration for the severance payment I am receiving under this Agreement, I acknowledge and agree that I am bound by the provisions of Sections 10A and 10B of my Employment Agreement and hereby release the Company and its current and former officers, directors, agents, attorneys, employees, stockholders, and affiliates from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, attorneys’ fees, damages, or obligations of every kind and nature, whether they are known or unknown, arising at any time prior to the date I sign this Agreement. This general release includes, but is not limited to: all federal and state statutory and common law claims related to my employment or the termination of my employment or related to breach of contract, tort, wrongful termination, discrimination, wages or benefits, or claims for any form of compensation. This release is not intended to release any claims I have or may have against any of the released parties for (a) indemnification as a director, officer, agent or employee under applicable law, charter document or agreement, (b) severance and other termination benefits specifically provided for in my Employment Agreement which constitutes a part of the consideration for this release, (c) health or other insurance benefits based on claims already submitted or which are covered claims properly submitted in the future, (d) vested rights under pension, retirement or other benefit plans, or (e) in respect of events, acts or omissions occurring after the date of this Release Agreement. In releasing claims unknown to me at present, I am waiving all rights and benefits under Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, and any law or legal principle of similar effect in any jurisdiction: “A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor.”

I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights I may have under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”). I also acknowledge that the consideration given for the waiver in the above paragraph is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I have been advised by this writing, as required by the ADEA that: (a) my waiver and release do not apply to any claims that may arise after my signing of this Agreement; (b) I should consult with an attorney prior to executing this release; (c) I have at least twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this release (although I may choose to voluntarily execute this release earlier); (d) I have seven (7) days following the execution of this release to revoke the Agreement; and (e) this Agreement will not be effective until the eighth day after this Agreement has been signed both by me and by the Company.

I accept and agree to the terms and conditions stated above:

                                 

Scott Siers

Exhibit 10.4

[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.

(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. References to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include, without limitation, any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise that imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries, including as a deemed fiduciary thereto.

(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 ownership of stock of the Company; and (v) Roy F. Farmer and Emily Farmer (both deceased) 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, in each case whether formal or informal, 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 (including, without limitation, as a witness, even if neither Indemnitee nor the Company is named as a party to such Proceeding) 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 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.

(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 Company-purchased 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

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

10.     Advances of Expenses; Defense of Claim; Information Sharing

(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; provided, however, that Indemnitee shall not be required to include in any such statement any information that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege provided by applicable law. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within thirty (30) days after any request for Advances by Indemnitee, the Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), (i) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient for Indemnitee to pay such Expenses, and/or (iii) to the extent that Indemnitee has already paid for Expenses, reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses. Indemnitee’s right to advances shall include all Expenses incurred through and including the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal thereof. 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.

(d)    If Indemnitee is the subject of or is implicated in any way during an investigation, whether formal or informal, the Company shall share with Indemnitee any information it has turned over to any third parties concerning the investigation (“ Shared Information ”). By executing this Agreement, Indemnitee agrees that such Shared Information is material non-public information that Indemnitee is obligated to hold in confidence and may not disclose publicly; provided, however, that Indemnitee shall be permitted to use the Shared Information and to disclose Shared Information to Indemnitee’s legal counsel solely in connection with defending Indemnitee from legal liability.

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 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.

(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.

(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.

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)    For the duration of Indemnitee’s service at the request of the Company and thereafter for so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to being made a party to or participant in any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s current or former Corporate Status, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the scope and amount of coverage available relative to the cost thereof) to cause to be maintained in effect policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing coverage for directors and/or officers of the Company that is at least substantially comparable in scope and amount to that provided by the Company’s current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. The minimum AM Best rating for the insurance carriers of such insurance policy shall be not less than A- VI.

(d)    In the event of a Change in Control or the Company becoming insolvent—including, without limitation, being placed into receivership or entering the federal bankruptcy process and the like—the Company shall maintain in force any and all insurance policies then maintained by the Company in providing insurance—directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary, employment practices or otherwise—in respect of Indemnitee, for a period of six years thereafter (a “ Tail Policy ”). Such coverage shall be with the incumbent insurance carriers using the policies that were in place immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control (unless the incumbent carrier(s) will not offer such policies, in which case the Tail Policy shall be substantially comparable in scope and amount as the expiring policies, and the insurance carriers for the Tail Policy shall have an AM Best rating that is the same or better than the AM Best ratings of the expiring policies). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the annual premium of any year of such Tail Policy or other continuing policies of insurance--directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary, employment practices or otherwise—would exceed 250% of the annual premium the Company paid for such insurance in its last full fiscal year prior to the reduction, termination, or expiration of such insurance or to such Change in Control (either case, a “ Measuring Event ”), the Company (or the acquiror or successor of the Company, as the case may be) will be deemed to have satisfied its obligations under this Section 17(d) by purchasing as much such insurance for such year as can be obtained for a premium equal to 250% of such annual premium the Company paid for such insurance prior to the Measuring Event. The insurance to be placed pursuant to this Section 17(d) shall be placed by the Company’s insurance broker as of the time immediately prior to such Change in Control or insolvency event.

(e)    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.

(f)    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.

(g)    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.

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.

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]

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:                     

                     

                     

SCHEDULE OF INDEMNITEES

Hamideh Assadi

Guenter W. Berger

Scott W. Bixby

Randy E. Clark

Barry C. Fischetto

Jeanne Farmer Grossman

Mark A. Harding

Ellen D. Iobst

Isaac N. Johnston, Jr.

Michael H. Keown

Charles F. Marcy

Thomas J. Mattei, Jr.

Thomas W. Mortensen

Christopher P. Mottern

Mark J. Nelson

Rene E. Peth

L. Pat Quiggle

David G. Robson

Scott A. Siers

Jonathan Waite

Teri L. Witteman

Exhibit 10.5

[FORM OF EXECUTIVE OFFICER]

CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

THIS CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), effective as of              ,      (the “ Effective Date ”), is made by and between FARMER BROS. CO., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and                  (the “ Executive ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential to foster the continued employment of well qualified, senior executive management personnel; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to foster such continued employment by setting forth the benefits and compensation to be awarded to such personnel in the event of a voluntary or involuntary termination within the meaning of this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company further recognizes that the possibility of a Change in Control of the Company exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions that it may raise among executive management, may result in the departure or distraction of executive personnel to the detriment of the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has further determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company’s executive management, including the Executive, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising from the possibility of a Change in Control;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1.     Term of Agreement . The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the date hereof and expire on the close of business on              , 20      ; provided, however, that (i) commencing on January 1,              and each January 1 thereafter, the term of this Agreement will automatically be extended for an additional year unless, not later than September 30 of the immediately preceding year, the Company (provided no Change in Control has occurred and no Threatened Change in Control is pending) or the Executive shall have given notice that it or the Executive, as the case may be, does not wish to have the Term extended; (ii) if, prior to a Change in Control, the Executive ceases for any reason to be an employee of the Company, thereupon without further action the Term shall be deemed to have expired and this Agreement will immediately terminate and be of no further effect.

 

2.     Definitions

 

(a)    “ Base Salary ” shall mean the Executive’s salary, which excludes Bonuses, at the rate in effect when an event triggering benefits under Section 3 of this Agreement occurs.

 

(b)    “ Beneficial Owner ” or “ Beneficial Ownership ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act.

 

(c)    “ Board ” or “ Board of Directors ” shall mean the Board of Directors of Farmer Bros. Co., or its successor.

(d)    “ Bonus(es) ” shall mean current cash compensation over and above Base Salary whether awarded under the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan or otherwise awarded.

(e)    “ Cause ” shall mean:

 

(i)    the Executive’s material fraud, malfeasance, or gross negligence, willful and material neglect of Executive’s employment duties or Executive’s willful and material misconduct with respect to business affairs of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or

(ii)    Executive’s conviction of or failure to contest prosecution for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.

 

A termination of Executive for “Cause” based on clause (i) of the preceding sentence can be made only by delivery to Executive of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three quarters of the Board then in office at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose, after reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive’s counsel (if the Executive chooses to have counsel present at such meeting), to be heard before the Board, finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive had committed an act constituting “Cause” as herein defined and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.  Nothing herein will limit the right of the Executive or [his/her] beneficiaries to contest the validity or propriety of any such determination.   A termination for Cause based on clause (ii) above shall take effect immediately upon giving of the termination notice. No act or omission shall be deemed “willful” if it was due primarily to an error in judgment or ordinary negligence.

 

(f)    “ Change in Control ” shall mean:

 

(i)    An acquisition by any Person (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof) of Beneficial Ownership of the Shares then outstanding (the “ Company Shares Outstanding ”) or the voting securities of the Company then outstanding entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “ Company Voting Securities Outstanding ”), if such acquisition of Beneficial Ownership results in the Person beneficially owning (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company Shares Outstanding or fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company Voting Securities Outstanding; excluding, however, any such acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary holding such Shares under one or more employee benefit plans maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or

 

(ii)    The approval of the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, complete liquidation, or dissolution of the Company, the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or any similar corporate transaction (in each case referred to in this Section 2(f) as a “ Corporate Transaction ”), other than a Corporate Transaction that would result in the outstanding common stock of the Company immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into common stock of the surviving entity or a parent or affiliate thereof) at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding common stock of the Company or such surviving entity or parent or affiliate thereof immediately after such Corporate Transaction; provided, however, if the consummation of such Corporate Transaction is subject, at the time of such approval by stockholders, to the consent of any government or governmental agency, the Change in Control shall not occur until the obtaining of such consent (either explicitly or implicitly); or

 

(iii)    A change in the composition of the Board such that the individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (such Board shall be hereinafter referred to as the “ Incumbent Board ”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, for purposes of this Section 2(f) that any individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of those individuals who are members of the Board and who were also members of the Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such pursuant to this proviso) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board; but, provided, further, that any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act, including any successor to such Rule), or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board, shall not be so considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.

 

(g)    “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

(h)    “ Disability ” shall mean the Executive’s inability as a result of physical or mental incapacity to substantially perform [his/her] duties for the Company on a full-time basis for a period of six (6) months.

(i)    “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.

(j)    “ Involuntary Termination ” shall mean a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company that occurs for reasons other than for Cause, Disability or death.

(k)    “ Threatened Change in Control ” shall mean any bona fide pending tender offer for any class of the Company’s outstanding Shares, or any pending bona fide offer to acquire the Company by merger or consolidation, or any other pending action or plan to effect, or which would lead to, a Change in Control of the Company as determined by the Incumbent Board. A Threatened Change in Control Period shall commence on the first day the actions described in the preceding sentence become manifest and shall end when such actions are abandoned or the Change in Control occurs.

(l)    “ Shares ” shall mean the shares of common stock of the Company.

(m)    “ Resignation for Good Reason ” shall mean a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive due to:

(i)    a significant reduction of the Executive’s responsibilities, duties or authority;

(ii)    a material reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary; or

(iii)    a Company-required material relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment;

provided, however, that any such condition shall not constitute “Good Reason” unless both (x) the Executive provides written notice to the Company describing the condition claimed to constitute Good Reason in reasonable detail within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of such condition,

and (y) the Company fails to remedy such condition within thirty (30) days of receiving such written notice thereof; and provided, further, that in all events the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company shall not be treated as a termination for “Good Reason” unless such termination occurs not more than one (1) year following the initial existence of the condition claimed to constitute “Good Reason.

3.     Events That Trigger Benefits Under This Agreement . The Executive shall be eligible for the compensation and benefits described in Section 4 of this Agreement as follows:

 

(a)    A Change in Control occurs and Executive’s employment is Involuntarily Terminated or terminated by Resignation for Good Reason within twenty-four (24) months following the occurrence of the Change in Control; or

(b)    A Threatened Change in Control occurs and the Executive’s employment is Involuntarily Terminated or terminated by Resignation for Good Reason during the Threatened Change in Control Period.

 

4.     Benefits Upon Termination . If the Executive becomes eligible for benefits under Section 3 above, the Company shall pay or provide to the Executive the following compensation and benefits:

 

(a)     Salary . The Executive will receive as severance an amount equal to [his/her] Base Salary at the rate in effect on the date of termination for a period of twenty-four (24) months, such payment to be made in installments in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices, such installments to commence, subject to Section 9(j)(ii), in the month following the month in which the Executive’s Separation from Service occurs. The Executive shall also receive a payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Executive’s target Bonus for the fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs (or, if no target Bonus has been assigned to the Executive as of the date of termination, the average Bonus paid by the Company to the Executive for the last three (3) completed fiscal years or for the number of completed fiscal years that Executive has been in the employ of the Company if fewer than three, prior to the termination date), such payment to be made, subject to Section 9(j)(ii), in a lump sum within thirty (30) days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Executive’s date of termination occurs. As used herein, a “ Separation from Service ” occurs when the Executive dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with the Company that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1), without regard to the optional alternative definitions available thereunder.

(b)     Qualified and Non-Qualified Plan Coverage . Subject to the eligibility provisions of the plans, the Executive shall continue to participate in the tax-qualified and non-qualified retirement, savings and employee stock ownership plans of the Company during the twenty four (24) month period following the Executive’s date of termination unless the Executive commences Employment prior to the end of the twenty four (24) month period, in which case, such participation shall end on the date of [his/her] new employment. The Executive shall inform the Company promptly upon commencing new employment.

(c)     Health, Dental, and Life Insurance Coverage . The health, dental, and life insurance benefits coverage provided to the Executive at [his/her] date of termination shall be continued by the Company during the twenty-four (24) month period following the Executive’s date of termination unless the Executive commences employment prior to the end of the twenty four (24) month period and qualifies for substantially equivalent insurance benefits with the Executive’s new employer , in which case, such insurance coverages shall end on the date of qualification.  The Executive shall inform the Company promptly of [his/her] qualification for any of such insurance coverages.  . The Company shall provide for such insurance coverages at its expense at the same level and in the same manner as if the Executive’s employment had not terminated

(subject to the customary changes in such coverages if the Executive retires under a Company retirement plan, reaches age 65, or similar events and subject to Executive’s right to make any changes in such coverages that an active employee is permitted to make). Any additional coverages the Executive had at termination, including dependent coverage, will also be continued for such period on the same terms, to the extent permitted by the applicable policies or contracts. Any costs the Executive was paying for such coverages at the time of termination shall be paid by the Executive by separate check payable to the Company each month in advance. If the terms of any benefit plan referred to in this Section do not permit continued participation by the Executive, the Company will arrange for other coverage at its expense providing substantially similar benefits. If the Executive is covered by a split-dollar or similar life insurance program at the date of termination, [he/she] shall have the option in [his/her] sole discretion to have such policy transferred to him upon termination, provided that the Company is paid for its interest m the policy upon such transfer.

(d)     Outplacement Services . The Company shall provide the Executive with outplacement services by a firm selected by the Executive, at the expense of the Company, in an amount up to $25,000.

(e)     No Mitigation Obligation . The Company hereby acknowledges that it will be difficult and may be impossible for the Executive to find reasonably comparable employment following termination of Executive’s employment by the Company and that the non-solicitation covenant contained in Section 6 may further limit the employment opportunities for the Executive.  Accordingly, the payment of the compensation and benefits by the Company to the Executive in accordance with the terms of this Agreement is hereby acknowledged by the Company to be reasonable, and the Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever create any mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of the Executive hereunder or otherwise, except as expressly provided in the first sentence of Section 4(c).

5.     Parachute Payments . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the compensation and benefits provided for in this Agreement to Executive together with all other payments and the value of any benefit received or to be received by Executive:

(a)    constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and

(b)    but for this Section, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, the Executive’s compensation and benefits pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be payable either:

(i)    in full, or

(ii)    in such lesser amount which would result in no portion of such compensation and benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of compensation and benefits under this Agreement, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such compensation and benefits may be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code.  Unless the Company and Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section 5 shall be made in writing by the Company’s independent public accountants serving immediately before the Change in Control (the “ Accountants ”), whose determination shall be conclusive and binding upon Executive and the Company

for all purposes.  For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 5, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable good faith interpretations concerning the applications of Section 280G and 4999 of the Code.  The Company shall cause the Accountants to provide detailed supporting calculations of its determination to Executive and the Company.  Executive and the Company shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section. The Company shall bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 5.

 

6.     Obligation Not to Solicit

 

(a)    Executive hereby agrees that while Executive is receiving compensation and benefits under this Agreement, Executive shall not in any manner attempt to induce or assist others to attempt to induce any officer, employee, customer or client of the Company to terminate its association with the Company, nor do anything directly or indirectly to interfere with the relationship between the Company and any such persons or concerns.

 

(b)    In the event that the Executive engages in any activity in violation of Section 6(a), all compensation and benefits described in Section 4 shall immediately cease.

 

7.     Confidentiality . The terms of this Agreement are to be of the highest confidentiality. In order to insure and maintain such confidentiality, it is agreed that neither party, including all persons and entities under a party’s control, shall, directly or indirectly, publicize or disclose to third persons the terms of this Agreement or the substance of negotiations with respect to it; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to prevent disclosures which are reasonably necessary to enforce the terms of this Agreement or which are otherwise required by law to be made to governmental agencies or others; moreover, nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the parties hereto, or their attorneys, from making such disclosures for legitimate business purposes to their respective insurers, financial institutions, accountants and attorneys or, in the case of a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, to its respective officers, directors, employees, managers, members and agents or any of its respective subsidiaries, group or divisions, provided that each such recipient of such disclosures agrees to be bound by the requirements concerning disclosure of confidential information as set forth in this Paragraph 7.

 

8.     Settlement of Disputes; Arbitration

(a)    All disputes arising under or in connection with this Agreement (including disputes over enforceability, interpretation, construction and breach of this Agreement), shall be submitted to binding arbitration in Tarrant County, Texas before an arbitrator selected by mutual agreement of the parties.  If the parties are unable to agree mutually on an arbitrator within thirty (30) days after a written demand for arbitration is made, the matter shall be submitted to the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”) or successor organization for binding arbitration in Tarrant County, Texas by a single arbitrator who shall be a lawyer licensed to practice law in the state of Texas and Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in labor and employment law. The arbitrator shall be selected by AAA in an impartial manner determined by its rules.  Except as may be otherwise provided herein, the arbitration shall be conducted under the Federal Arbitration Act and pursuant to the AAA’s Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes. The arbitration hearing shall be commenced within ninety (90) days of the appointment of the arbitrator, and a decision shall be rendered by the arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the hearing.  The arbitrator shall award costs of the proceeding, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, to the party or parties determined to have substantially prevailed, but such award for attorneys’ fees shall not exceed

One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).  Judgment on the award can be entered in a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(b)    The foregoing notwithstanding, if the amount in controversy exceeds $200,000, exclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs, the matter shall be litigated in the court located in federal or state district courts located in Tarrant County, Texas as a regular civil action sitting without a jury (a jury being waived by all parties hereto). The prevailing party shall be entitled to receive its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs from the other party, but such award for attorneys’ fees shall not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).

9.     Miscellaneous

(a)    Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted under this Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally or seven days after mailing if mailed first class by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

If to the Company:    Farmer Bros. Co

1912 Farmer Brothers Drive

Northlake, TX 76262

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

with a copy to:        Farmer Bros. Co

1912 Farmer Brothers Drive

Northlake, TX 76262

Attn: Legal Department

If to the Executive:                         

                                 

                                         

or to such other address as any party may designate by notice to the others.

(b)     Assignment . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective executors, administrators, heirs, personal representatives, and successors, but, except as hereinafter provided, neither this Agreement nor any right hereunder may be assigned or transferred by either party thereto, or by any beneficiary or any other person, nor be subject to alienation, anticipation, sale, pledge, encumbrance, execution, levy, or other legal process of any kind against the Executive, [his/her] beneficiary or any other person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any person or business entity succeeding to substantially all of the business of the Company by purchase, merger, consolidation, sale of assets, or otherwise, shall be bound by and shall adopt and assume this Agreement and the Company shall cause the assumption of this Agreement by such successor. If Executive shall die while any amount would still be payable to Executive hereunder (other than amounts that, by their terms, terminate upon the death of Executive) if Executive had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the executors, personal representatives or administrators of Executive’s estate.

(c)     No Obligation to Fund . The agreement of the Company (or its successor) to make payments to the Executive hereunder shall represent solely the unsecured obligation of the Company (and

its successor), except to the extent the Company (or its successors) in its sole discretion elects in whole or in part to fund its obligations under this Agreement pursuant to a trust arrangement or otherwise.

 

(d)     Applicable Law . This Agreement was negotiated, entered into and is performable, in whole or in part, in Texas and therefore shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to conflict of law principles.

(e)     Amendment . This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument signed by the parties hereto, which makes specific reference to this Agreement.

(f)     Severability . If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any other provisions hereof.

(g)     Withholding . The Company shall have the right to withhold any and all local, state and federal taxes which may be withheld in accordance with applicable law.

(h)     Other Benefits . Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or replace the compensation or benefits payable to Executive, or otherwise adversely affect Executive’s rights, under any other benefit plan, program, or agreement to which Executive is a party.

(i)     Employment Rights . Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement will create any right or duty on the part of the Company or the Executive to have the Executive remain in the employment of the Company or any Subsidiary prior to or following any Change in Control.  [The Company and Executive are parties to an Employment Agreement executed concurrently herewith.  Except as provided in Section 11 of the Employment Agreement, the provisions of the Employment Agreement and this Agreement are cumulative.]

(j)     Section 409A

(i)    It is intended that any amounts payable under this Agreement shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code (including the Treasury regulations and other published guidance relating thereto) (“ Code Section 409A ”) so as not to subject the Executive to payment of any additional tax, penalty or interest imposed under Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted to avoid the imputation of any such additional tax, penalty or interest under Code Section 409A yet preserve (to the nearest extent reasonably possible) the intended benefit payable to the Executive.

(ii)    Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service, the Executive shall not be entitled to any payment or benefit pursuant to Section 4 until the earlier of (i) the date which is six (6) months after the Executive’s Separation from Service for any reason other than death, or (ii) the date of the Executive’s death. Any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive upon or in the six (6) month period following the Executive’s Separation from Service that are not so paid by reason of this Section 9(j)(ii) shall be paid (without interest) as soon as practicable (and in all events within thirty (30) days) after the date that is six (6) months after the Executive’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, as soon as practicable, and in all events within thirty (30) days, after the date of the Executive’s death). The provisions of this Section 9(j)(ii) shall only apply if, and to the extent, required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Code Section 409A.

(iii)    To the extent that any benefits or reimbursements pursuant to Section 4(c) or Section 4(d) are taxable to the Executive, any reimbursement payment due to the Executive pursuant to any such provision shall be paid to the Executive on or before the last day of the Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the related expense was incurred. The benefits and reimbursements pursuant to such provisions are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit and the amount of such benefits and reimbursements that the Executive receives in one taxable year shall not affect the amount of such benefits or reimbursements that the Executive receives in any other taxable year.

[SIGNATURES FOLLOW]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers and the Executive has hereunder set [his/her] hand, as of the date first above written.

Company:                     FARMER BROS. CO.,

a Delaware corporation

By:                             

Name:                             

Title:                             

Executive:                                                  

[Name of Executive]

SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Michael H. Keown

Thomas J. Mattei, Jr.

Scott W. Bixby

Scott A. Siers

David G. Robson

Ellen D. Iobst