Item 4.01. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
(a) Dismissal of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On December 16, 2021, Farmer Bros. Co. (the “Company”), upon the approval of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”), dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as its independent registered public accounting firm effective as of that date.
The reports of Deloitte on the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, and in the subsequent interim period through December 16, 2021, there were (a) no disagreements (as that term is described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) with Deloitte on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Deloitte, would have caused Deloitte to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports on the consolidated financial statements for such years, and (b) no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
Pursuant to Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, the Company provided Deloitte with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and requested that Deloitte furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made herein. A copy of Deloitte’s letter to the SEC dated December 22, 2021 is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
(b) Engagement of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On December 16, 2021, the Company engaged Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”) to serve as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. The decision to engage Grant Thornton as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm was approved by the Audit Committee.
During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, and in the subsequent interim period through December 16, 2021, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has consulted with Grant Thornton regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company, and no written report was provided to the Company nor oral advice was provided that Grant Thornton concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of a “disagreement” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a “reportable event” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).