UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                              to                            

Commission file number:    0-1375

FARMER BROS. CO.

(exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (310) 787-5200

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x NO o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o NO x

On November 1, 2008 the registrant had 16,075,080 shares outstanding of its common stock, par value $1.00 per share, which is the registrant’s only class of common stock.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

FARMER BROS. CO.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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FARMER BROS. CO.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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FARMER BROS. CO.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1. Unaudited Financial Statements

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for complete consolidated financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals, unless otherwise indicated) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the interim financial data have been included.  Operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Farmer Bros. Co. annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.

Coffee Brewing Equipment and Service

The Company has reclassified its reporting for expenses related to coffee brewing equipment provided to customers.  These costs include the cost of the equipment, depreciation on capitalized equipment as well as the cost of servicing that equipment (including service employees’ salaries and the cost of supplies and parts).  Accordingly, such costs are now reported as cost of sales in the accompanying financial statements for the fiscal periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, in the amounts of $2.2 million, and $5.1 million respectively. In prior periods, these costs were presented as selling expenses. This change impacts reported gross profit in the years presented by these amounts. The change reduces gross profit but has no impact on net income, total assets, or cash flows in any year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Net Loss per Share

Net loss per share has been computed in accordance with of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, “Earnings per Share” excluding unallocated shares held by the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan.  The Company has no dilutive shares for any of the fiscal quarters presented.  Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements present only basic net loss per share.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” (“SFAS 161”) which amends and expands Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”  SFAS 161 requires tabular disclosure of the fair value of derivative instruments and their gains and losses.  This Statement also requires disclosure regarding the credit—risk related contingent features in derivative agreements, counterparty credit risk, and strategies and objectives for using derivative instruments.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS 161 in the third quarter of fiscal 2009.  The Company does not currently believe that adopting SFAS 161 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Effective July 1, 2008, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”).  SFAS 159 allows companies the option to irrevocably elect, on a contract by contract basis, fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement for certain financial assets and financial liabilities.  The Company has not elected the option for fair value measurement under SFAS 159 for any additional financial assets or financial liabilities that were not previously recognized at fair market value.

Note 2. Investments and Derivative Instruments

The Company purchases various derivative instruments as investments or to create economic hedges of its interest rate risk and commodity price risk. At September 30, 2008 and June 30, 2008, derivative instruments are not designated as accounting hedges as defined by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting

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 for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” The fair value of derivative instruments is based upon broker quotes. The Company records unrealized gains and losses on trading securities and changes in the market value of certain coffee contracts meeting the definition of derivatives in Other, net (expense) income.

The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”) on July 1, 2008.  SFAS 157 defines fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis.  Under SFAS 157, the Company groups its assets and liabilities at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value.  These levels are:

·                  Level 1 — Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

·                  Level 2 — Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

·                  Level 3 — Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market.  These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.  Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

The Company’s preferred stock and corresponding hedge instruments have been grouped as follows at September 30, 2008 (unaudited):

Investments, consisting of marketable debt and equity securities and money market instruments, are held for trading purposes and are stated at fair value.

Investments are as follows:

Gains and losses, both realized and unrealized, are included in Other, net (expense) income.  Net realized and unrealized gains and losses are as follows (unaudited):

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Note 3. Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market.  Costs of coffee and allied products are determined on the last in, first out (LIFO) basis.  Costs of coffee brewing equipment manufactured are accounted for on the first in, first out (FIFO) basis.  An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method is made only at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time.  Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations must necessarily be based on management’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs.  Because these estimates are subject to many forces beyond management’s control, interim results are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation.

Note 4. Employee Benefit Plans

The Company provides pension plans for most full time employees. Generally the plans provide benefits based on years of service and/or a combination of years of service and earnings. Retirees are also eligible for medical and life insurance benefits.

Company Pension Plans

The Company has a defined benefit plan for all employees not covered under a collective bargaining agreement (Farmer Bros. Co. Plan) and defined benefit pension plan (Brewmatic Co. Plan) for certain hourly employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement.  The net periodic benefit costs for the defined benefit plans were as follows:

Components of net periodic benefit cost

* These amounts represent the estimated portion of the net (gain)/loss, transition (asset)/obligation, and net prior service cost/(credit) remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income that is expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost over the upcoming fiscal year.

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Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost

Basis used to determine expected long-term return on plan assets

Historical and future expected rates of return of multiple asset classes were analyzed to develop a risk-free real rate of return and risk premiums for each asset class.  The overall rate for each asset class was developed by combining a long-term inflation component, the risk-free real rate of return, and the associated risk premium.  A weighted average rate of return was developed based on those overall rates of return and the target asset allocations of the plans.

Note 5. Stock-Based Compensation

On August 23, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the Farmer Bros. Co. 2007 Omnibus Plan (“the Plan”), which was approved by stockholders on December 6, 2007.  Prior to adoption of the Plan the Company had no stock-based compensation plan.  Awards issued under the Plan may take the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents, performance-based awards, stock payments, cash-based awards or other incentives payable in cash or shares of stock, or any combination thereof.  Each award will be set forth in a separate agreement with the person receiving the award and will indicate the type, terms and conditions of the award.  The maximum number of shares of common stock as to which awards may be granted under the Plan is 1,000,000, subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan.

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”), and related SEC rules included in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 , which require the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards made under the Plan based on estimated fair values.

Stock Options

SFAS 123R requires companies to estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. Prior to fiscal 2008 the Company did not have stock-based compensation.

Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the period is based on the value of the portion of stock-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period. Compensation expense recognized for all stock option awards granted is recognized using the straight-line method over the vesting period of three years. The stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three

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month period ended September 30, 2008 is based on awards ultimately expected to vest. Currently, management estimates that there will be no forfeitures based on the Company’s historical turnover. SFAS 123R requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which requires management to make certain assumptions for estimating the fair value of stock options at the date of the grant. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company’s stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates, in management’s opinion the existing models may not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the Company’s stock options. Although the fair value of stock options is determined in accordance with SFAS 123R using an option valuation model, that value may not be indicative of the fair value observed in a willing buyer/willing seller market transaction.

The following are the weighted average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes valuation model for the three months ended September 30, 2008:

The Company’s assumption regarding expected stock price volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues at the date of grant with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the stock options.

The following table summarizes stock option activity from adoption of the Plan through September 30, 2008:

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The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $24.87 at September 30, 2008, representing the last trading day of the quarter, which would have been received by award holders had all award holders exercised their awards that were in-the-money as of that date.  As of September 30, 2008, there was approximately $443,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options.  Compensation expense recognized in general and administrative expense was $60,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008.

Restricted Stock

During fiscal 2008 the Company granted a total of 25,200 shares of restricted stock, with a weighted average grant date fair value of $22.66 per share, to eligible employees, officers and directors under the Plan.  Shares of restricted stock vest at the end of three years. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period based on the estimated fair value of the restricted stock. Compensation expense recognized in general and administrative expense was $48,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008. As of September 30, 2008, there was approximately $455,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock.

The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s restricted stock as of September 30, 2008:

Note 6.  Income Taxes

In September 2008, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed an examination of the Company’s U.S. income tax returns for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Company and the IRS reached a settlement on certain issues which resulted in a decrease to the Company’s total unrecognized tax benefits of $421,000 (excluding interest and penalties).  Of this amount, $266,000 was realized as income in the current year.

California notified the Company in January 2008 of their intent to conduct a state examination upon the finalization of the IRS examination.  The California examination has not commenced as of September 30, 2008. We believe it is reasonably possible that a portion of our total unrecognized tax benefits will decrease in the next 12 months upon the conclusion of this, and other ongoing state examinations.  However, it is premature to assess the range of the reasonably possible changes to our unrecognized tax benefits.

As of June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008, the Company had not recognized the following tax benefits in its consolidated financial statements:

* Not including interest and penalties

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The Company’s effective tax rate of 45.5% primarily consists of its statutory federal and state combined rate of 38.6% (benefit) plus a 4.8% (benefit) related to the Company’s dividends received deduction.  The federal and state rates represent a benefit in the current year because the Company is in a loss position.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q regarding the risks, circumstances and financial trends that may affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows are not based on historical fact and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations.  These statements are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates and observations of future events and include any statements that do not directly relate to any historical or current fact.  These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words like “anticipates,” “feels,” “estimates,” “projects,” “expects,” “plans,” “believes,” “intends,” “will,” “assumes” and other words of similar meaning.  Owing to the uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements.  A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances, and those future events or circumstances may not occur.  Users should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by the federal securities laws. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in availability and cost of green coffee, competition, organizational changes, the impact of a weaker economy, business conditions in the coffee industry and food industry in general, the Company’s continued success in attracting new customers, variances from budgeted sales mix and growth rates, and weather and special or unusual events, as well as other risks described in this report and other factors described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

There have been no material changes in the Company’s liquidity needs or capital resources since the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.  We continue to maintain a strong working capital position, and believe that our short and long term cash requirements will be provided by internal sources. We do not expect to rely on banks or other third parties for our working capital needs.  However, uncertain economic conditions and the possibility that the U.S. financial markets will have a prolonged period of illiquidity have prompted the Company to seek a line of credit from a commercial bank to make certain the funds are available to meet Company’s working capital and capital investment needs.

In August 2008, our wholly owned subsidiary Coffee Bean International, Inc. (“CBI”),  moved into its new headquarters and roasting plant in Portland, Oregon.  We expect this plant to provide additional capacity to accommodate anticipated growth.  To date we have invested approximately $15,000,000 in the new CBI plant and an additional $1,000,000 in packaging equipment, including approximately $5 million invested in the quarter ended September 30, 2008.  We expect to invest up to $10 million into our Torrance plant by the end of fiscal 2009 to revise our operations to provide more roasting and packaging flexibility as well as to further reduce materials handling.  Our mobile sales software is currently being implemented across our sales network.  We have 60% of our branches operating on the new system as of October 31, 2008, with the remaining branches expected to be converted by the end of fiscal 2009.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2009 we capitalized computer hardware costs in the amount of $934,000 and purchased vehicles in the amount of $1,071,000, an increase of $636,000 over purchases in the same period of fiscal 2008.   The Company expects to fund these investments from internal sources.

Our working capital is composed of the following (unaudited):

At September 30, 2008 we had no material commitments for capital expenditures other than those described above.

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Results of Operations

The Company’s net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 increased 9% to $66,524,000 as compared to $60,943,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2008; units sold increased 2% in this period.  Although we believe our multi-year effort to increase sales by providing additional resources to expand our customer base by securing new national accounts may be showing some success, we expect our fiscal 2009 prospects will be limited by weakness in the general economy and reduced consumer spending through the remainder of fiscal 2009.

Cost of goods sold in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 increased 10% to $35,573,000 or 53.5% of sales as compared to $32,216,000 or 52.9% of sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.  Gross profit in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 increased $2,227,000 to $30,951,000, or 46.5% of sales, as compared to $28,727,000, or 47.1% of sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

Higher commodity prices and higher fuel costs have put pressure on our profit margins in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 as compared to the same period of fiscal 2008.  For example the rising market for green coffee resulted in a LIFO adjustment in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 that increased cost of sales by $1,150,000.  Although we make every effort to pass these higher costs through to our customers, competition restricts our ability to do so.    Additionally, coffee brewing equipment and service costs were lower in fiscal 2009 by $2,072,000 as a result of the portion of coffee brewing equipment capitalized in fiscal 2009 that previously had been expensed.  We cannot predict whether the current profit margins can be maintained.

Operating expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 increased $3,951,000 to $35,206,000 from $31,255,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.  Selling expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2008 increased to 42% of sales or $28,004,000 from 38% of sales or $23,355,000 in the same period of fiscal 2008. This increase primarily resulted from higher freight costs of $878,000 and increased wages and benefits of $1,761,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2009.  This increase was partially offset by a decrease in general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2009.  General and administrative expenses decreased 9%, or $698,000, to $7,202,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 as compared to $7,900,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2008 primarily resulting from a reduced accrual for retiree medical liability of $955,000.

Our loss from operations in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 increased 68% to ($4,255,000) from ($2,528,000) in the same quarter of fiscal 2008.

Other, net (expense) income in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 increased to a loss of ($9,850,000) as compared to a loss of ($2,894,000) in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.  The change in Other, net (expense) income is primarily the result of conditions in the U.S. financial markets.  Financial market conditions described in our Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2008 have continued into the first quarter of fiscal 2009.  The downturn in the housing market combined with real estate financing and liquidity issues have put pressure on the valuations of the preferred stocks we hold.   The Company has no direct exposure to sub-prime mortgages, but financial companies compose approximately 85% of the universe of preferred stocks.  Selling pressure from leveraged investors who need liquidity and a new supply of preferred issues taking advantage of lower dividend rates have resulted in a downward pressure on values.

Investor demand for the safety of U.S. Treasury instruments has flattened the U.S. Treasury yield curve and widened spreads between preferred stocks and U.S. Treasury instruments.  We believe that preferred stocks are currently priced cheaper to U.S. Treasury bond yields than they have ever traded.  Although aggressive easing of interest rates by the world’s central banks and other economic stimulus actions by governments may eventually have positive effects on this situation, we expect little improvement until the housing market stabilizes.

As a result of the forgoing factors, net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 was ($6,085,000), or ($0.42) per share, as compared to a net loss of ($953,000), or ($0.07) per share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

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Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

Item 3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market value risk arising from changes in interest rates on our securities portfolio. Our portfolio of investment grade money market instruments can include at any given time: discount commercial paper, medium term notes, federal agency issues and treasury securities.  As of September 30, 2008, over 90% of these funds were invested in a money market fund which invests in investment grade commercial paper and U.S. Treasury securities.  The funds are available on demand and have been classified as cash equivalents.

Our portfolio of preferred securities includes investments in derivatives that provide a natural economic hedge of interest rate risk. We review the interest rate sensitivity of these securities and (a) enter into “short positions” in futures contracts on U.S. Treasury securities or (b) hold put options on such futures contracts in order to reduce the impact of certain interest rate changes on such preferred stocks. Specifically, we attempt to manage the risk arising from changes in the general level of interest rates. We do not transact in futures contracts or put options for speculative purposes.

The following table demonstrates the impact of varying interest rate changes based on the preferred stock holdings, futures and options positions, and market yield and price relationships at September 30, 2008. This table is predicated on an instantaneous change in the general level of interest rates and assumes predictable relationships between the prices of preferred securities holdings, the yields on U.S. Treasury securities and related futures and options.

The number and type of futures and options contracts entered into depends on, among other items, the specific maturity and issuer redemption provisions for each preferred stock held, the slope of the Treasury yield curve, the expected volatility of U.S. Treasury yields, and the costs of using futures and/or options.

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Commodity Price Risk

We are exposed to commodity price risk arising from changes in the market price of green coffee. We price our coffee inventory on the LIFO basis. In the normal course of business we hold a large green coffee inventory and enter into forward commodity purchase agreements with suppliers. We are subject to price risk resulting from the volatility of green coffee prices. Volatile price increases cannot, because of competition and market conditions, always be passed on to our customers. From time to time the Company will hold a mix of futures contracts and options to help hedge against volatile green coffee price decreases. Gains and losses on these derivative instruments are realized immediately in Other, net (expense) income.

On September 30, 2008 we had no open hedge derivative contracts, and our entire exposure to commodity price risk was in the potential change of our coffee inventory value resulting from changes in the market price of green coffee.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

As of September 30, 2008, our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13(a)-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Based upon this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2008, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management has determined that there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act) during our fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2008, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits

See Exhibit Index.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.