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UNITED STATES |
OMB APPROVAL |
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
OMB Number: 3235-0059 |
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Washington, D.C. 20549 |
Expires: January 31, 2008 |
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SCHEDULE 14A |
Estimated average burden hours per response... 14 |
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant x | |
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o | |
Check the appropriate box: | |
o | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
o | Definitive Additional Materials |
o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule §240.14a-12 |
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x | No fee required. | |
o | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | |
1. | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: | |
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2. | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: | |
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3. | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): | |
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4. | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: | |
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5. | Total fee paid: | |
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SEC 1913 (04-05) Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. |
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o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |
o | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. | |
1. | Amount Previously Paid: | |
2. | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: | |
3. | Filing Party: | |
4. | Date Filed: | |
1. |
To elect a board of nine Directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are elected and qualified; |
2. |
To consider and vote upon a proposed amendment to the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation increasing from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value, and increasing from 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 the number of authorized shares of Class B Stock, $.01 par value; and |
3. |
To transact such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
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held directly in your name with our transfer agent as a shareholder of record; and |
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held for you in an account with a broker, bank or other nominee (shares held in street name). |
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are present and vote in person at the Annual Meeting; or |
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have properly submitted your proxy card by mail or voted your proxy card by telephone or via the internet prior to the Annual Meeting. |
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the election of nine director nominees to the Board of Directors until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders, or until their respective successors are elected and qualified; |
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the proposed amendment to the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation increasing the authorized shares of Class A Common Stock from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 and the Class B Stock from 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 shares; and |
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Such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
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FOR the director nominees named in this Proxy Statement; and |
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FOR the proposed amendment to the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation increasing the authorized shares of Class A Common Stock from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 and the Class B Stock from 1,500,000 to 3,000,000. |
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submitting a properly signed proxy card with a later date; |
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delivering a written notice of revocation bearing a later date than your proxy card to Berry Petroleum Company, 5201 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300, Bakersfield, California 93309, Attention: Corporate Secretary; or |
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voting in person at the Annual Meeting. |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (1)(2)(14) |
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner* |
Position |
Shares |
Percent |
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Martin H.
Young, Jr. |
Chairman of the Board and Director |
45,000 | (3) | ** | |||||||||||
Robert F.
Heinemann |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
53,605 | (4) | ** | |||||||||||
William F.
Berry |
Director |
1,510,722 | (5) | 6.9 | % | ||||||||||
Joseph H.
Bryant |
Director |
5,000 | (6) | ** | |||||||||||
Ralph B.
Busch, III |
Director |
226,584 | (7) | 1.0 | % | ||||||||||
William E.
Bush, Jr. |
Director |
183,323 | (8) | ** | |||||||||||
Stephen L.
Cropper |
Director |
22,500 | (9) | ** | |||||||||||
J. Herbert
Gaul, Jr. |
Director |
37,000 | (10) | ** | |||||||||||
Thomas J.
Jamieson |
Director |
70,900 | (11) | ** | |||||||||||
J. Frank
Keller |
Director |
5,000 | (12) | ** | |||||||||||
All Directors
and Officers as a group (20 persons) |
2,556,631 | (13) | 11.3 | % |
* |
All Directors and beneficial owners listed above can be contacted at Berry Petroleum Company, 5201 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300, Bakersfield, CA 93309. |
** |
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the Companys outstanding Capital Stock. |
(1) |
Unless otherwise indicated, shares shown as beneficially owned are those as to which the named person possesses sole voting and investment power. |
(2) |
All shares indicated are Common Stock and percent calculations are based on total shares of Capital Stock outstanding, including the 898,892 shares of Class B Stock outstanding which can be converted, at the request of the shareholder, to Class A Common Stock. |
(3) |
Includes 10,000 shares held directly and 35,000 shares which Mr. Young has the right to acquire under the Companys Equity Plans. |
(4) |
Includes 1,000 shares held directly, 51,250 shares which Mr. Heinemann has the right to acquire under the Companys Equity Plans and 1,355 shares which Mr. Heinemann holds in the 401(k) Plan. |
(5) |
Includes 1,431,000 shares held directly and 34,722 shares held in the Berry Childrens Trust as to which Mr. Berry has voting and investment power and 45,000 shares which Mr. Berry has the right to acquire under the Companys Equity Plans. |
(6) |
Includes 5,000 shares which Mr. Bryant has the right to acquire under the Companys Equity Plans. |
(7) |
Includes 78,689 shares held directly, 64,020 shares held in the B Group Trust at Union Bank of California which Mr. Busch votes, 49,875 shares held in a family trust for which Mr. Busch shares voting and investment power as co-trustee and 4,000 shares held in a family foundation for which Mr. Busch shares voting and investment power with his parents and siblings. Also includes 30,000 shares which Mr. Busch has the right to acquire under the Companys Equity Plans. |
(8) |
Includes 173,223 shares held directly, 100 shares held in Trust for his grandchildren and 10,000 shares which Mr. Bush has the right to acquire under the Companys Equity Plans. |
(9) |
Includes 2,500 shares held directly and 20,000 shares which Mr. Cropper has the right to acquire under the Companys Equity Plans. |
(10) |
Includes 2,000 shares held directly and 35,000 shares which Mr. Gaul has the right to acquire under the Companys Equity Plans. |
(11) |
Includes 6,000 shares held directly, 16,900 shares held indirectly by Mr. Jamieson through Jaco Oil Company, a corporation, and 48,000 shares which Mr. Jamieson has the right to acquire under the Companys Equity Plans. |
(12) |
Includes 5,000 shares which Mr. Keller has the right to acquire under the Companys Equity Plans. |
(13) |
Includes 59,788 shares held directly by Officers, 7,459 shares held indirectly by Officers in the Companys 401(k) Plan and 329,750 shares which the Companys Officers have the right to acquire upon the exercise of options granted under the Companys Equity Plans. |
(14) |
Does not include 47,408 units in a stock account owned by the Directors which represent the economic equivalent of shares of Common Stock which have been earned by six of the Directors through the Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan. These share equivalents are subject to Common Stock market price fluctuations and are non-voting. Stock account units owned as of March 1, 2006 were 13,915 for Mr. Young, 1,497 by Mr. Heinemann, 194 by Mr. Bryant, 6,062 by Mr. Busch, 12,004 by Mr. Gaul, and 13,736 by Mr. Jamieson. |
Title of Class |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class |
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Class A Common
Stock |
UnionBanCal Corporation 445 South Figueroa St., Third Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017 |
1,234,324 | (1) | 5.8 | % | |||||||||
Class A Common
Stock |
Winberta Holdings, Ltd. c/o Berry Petroleum Company 5201 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300 Bakersfield, CA 93309 |
987,058 | (2) | 4.7 | % | |||||||||
Class B
Stock |
Winberta Holdings, Ltd. c/o Berry Petroleum Company 5201 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300 Bakersfield, CA 93309 |
898,892 | (2) | 100 | % |
(1) |
As reflected in Schedule 13G/A, dated January 27, 2006, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by UnionBanCal Corporation (Union Bank). According to the Schedule 13G/A, Union Bank is the trustee of certain trusts to which the trustors retain voting and investment power and Union Bank has shared dispositive power on the shares indicated. In addition, Union Bank has shared power to vote 6,937 shares and the sole power to vote and control the investment power on another 8,000 shares. |
(2) |
As reflected in Schedule 13G/A, dated February 3, 2006, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Winberta Holdings Ltd. (Winberta). According to the Schedule 13G/A, Winberta has sole voting and dispositive power on all of the shares indicated. The Class B Stock shares are convertible into Class A Common Stock at the request of Winberta. The Class A Common Stock and Class B Stock are voted as a single class, as noted on Page 1 of this Proxy Statement. Winbertas combined shares comprise 8.6% of the total Capital Stock outstanding for the Company. |
Nominee |
Age |
Position |
Director Since |
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Martin H.
Young, Jr. |
53 |
Chairman of the Board and Director |
1999 |
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Robert F.
Heinemann |
52 |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
2002 |
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Joseph H.
Bryant |
50 |
Director |
2005 |
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Ralph B.
Busch, III |
46 |
Director |
1996 |
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William E.
Bush, Jr. |
58 |
Director |
1986 |
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Stephen L.
Cropper |
55 |
Director |
2002 |
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J. Herbert
Gaul, Jr. |
62 |
Director |
1999 |
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Thomas J.
Jamieson |
62 |
Director |
1993 |
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J. Frank
Keller |
62 |
Director |
2006 |
1. |
In no event will a Director be considered independent if: |
(i) |
the Director is or has been within the last three years, employed by the Company. Employment as an interim Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer or other Executive Officer will not disqualify a Director from being considered independent following that employment; |
(ii) |
an immediate family member of the Director is or has been within the last three years employed by the Company as an Executive Officer; |
(iii) |
the Director, or an immediate family member of the Director, has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $100,000 in direct compensation from the Company (other than Directors fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service with the Company). Compensation received by a Director for service as an interim Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer or other Executive Officer and compensation received by a member of the Directors immediate family for service as a non-executive employee of the Company will not be considered in determining independence under this test; |
(iv) |
the Director, or an immediate family member, is a current partner of a firm that is the Companys internal or external auditor or its principal outside law firm; |
(v) |
the Director is a current employee of the Companys internal or external auditor or its principal outside law firm; |
(vi) |
an immediate family member of the Director is currently employed by the Companys internal or external auditor or its principal outside law firm and such family member participates in the firms audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not tax planning) practice; |
(vii) |
the Director or an immediate family member was, within the last three years (but is no longer) a partner or employee of the Companys internal or external auditor or its principal outside law firm and personally worked on the Companys audit within that time; |
(viii) |
the Director, or an immediate family member, is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the Companys present Executive Officers, at the same time, serves or served on that companys compensation committee; and |
(ix) |
the Director is a current employee, or any of the Directors immediate family is a current executive officer, of a company (including any tax-exempt entity) that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three |
fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of such other companys consolidated gross revenues. |
2. |
The mere ownership by a Director of equity securities of the Company shall not in and of itself be deemed to be a material relationship or transaction that would cause a Director not to be independent. |
3. |
To help maintain the independence of the Board, all Directors are required to deal at arms length with the Company and to disclose circumstances material to the Director that might be perceived as a conflict of interest. |
4. |
Whether Directors meet these categorical independence tests will be reviewed and will be made public annually prior to their standing for re-election to the Board. For relationships not covered by these guidelines, the determination of whether the relationship is material or not, and therefore whether the Director would be independent or not, shall be made by the Directors who satisfy the independence guidelines. |
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The Audit Committee |
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The Compensation Committee |
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The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee |
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the ability of the prospective nominee to represent the interests of the shareholders of the Company; |
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the prospective nominees personal and professional experiences and expertise; |
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the prospective nominees standards of integrity, commitment, independence of thought and judgment and avoidance of conflicts of interest; and |
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the prospective nominees ability to dedicate sufficient time, energy and attention to the performance of his or her duties. |
March 7,
2006 |
Stephen L. Cropper (Chairman) |
J. Herbert Gaul, Jr. |
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Thomas J. Jamieson |
Martin H. Young, Jr. |
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Attracting, developing, rewarding, and retaining highly qualified and productive individuals. |
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Directly aligning compensation to both Company and individual performance. |
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Ensuring compensation levels that are externally competitive and internally equitable. |
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Encouraging executive stock ownership to enhance a mutuality of interest with the Companys shareholders. |
As of March 7,
2006 |
Thomas J. Jamieson (Chairman) |
William F. Berry |
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Joseph H. Bryant |
Ralph B. Busch, III |
Annual Compensation |
Long Term Compensation Awards |
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Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary ($) |
Bonus ($)(1) |
Restricted Stock Unit Awards ($)(2) |
Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)(3) |
All Other Compensation ($)(4) |
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Robert
F. Heinemann |
2005 | $ | 380,000 | $ | 500,000 | $ | 612,900 | 75,000 | $ | 18,583 | ||||||||||||||||
President and |
2004 | $ | 224,743 | $ | 200,000 | $ | | 165,000 | $ | 337,708 | ||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer |
2003 | $ | | $ | | $ | | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph
J. Goehring |
2005 | $ | 225,000 | $ | 185,500 | $ | 306,450 | 20,000 | $ | 40,798 | ||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President |
2004 | $ | 220,000 | $ | 130,000 | $ | | 35,000 | $ | 22,178 | ||||||||||||||||
and
Chief Financial Officer |
2003 | $ | 210,000 | $ | 65,000 | $ | | 30,000 | $ | 26,412 | ||||||||||||||||
Michael
Duginski |
2005 | $ | 215,000 | $ | 212,000 | $ | 306,450 | 25,000 | $ | 38,846 | ||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President |
2004 | $ | 210,000 | $ | 100,000 | $ | | 35,000 | $ | 25,610 | ||||||||||||||||
of
Corporate Development |
2003 | $ | 190,000 | $ | 75,000 | $ | | 30,000 | $ | 20,209 | ||||||||||||||||
and
California |
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Logan
Magruder (7) |
2005 | $ | 215,000 | $ | 212,000 | $ | 306,450 | 25,000 | $ | 38,646 | ||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President |
2004 | $ | 210,000 | $ | 100,000 | $ | | 35,000 | $ | 452,002 | ||||||||||||||||
of
Rocky Mountain and |
2003 | $ | 61,107 | $ | 50,000 | $ | | 60,000 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
Mid-Continent Region |
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George
T. Crawford |
2005 | $ | 182,500 | $ | 96,300 | $ | 153,225 | 10,000 | $ | 35,225 | ||||||||||||||||
Vice
President of |
2004 | $ | 170,000 | $ | 50,000 | $ | | 20,000 | $ | 24,017 | ||||||||||||||||
California Production |
2003 | $ | 160,000 | $ | 25,000 | $ | | 20,000 | $ | 22,475 |
(1) |
Cash bonuses shown for the three years shown were generally declared in December of that year and paid in January of the following year. |
(2) |
The dollar amount shown equals the number of shares of restricted stock units awarded multiplied by the stock price on the grant date. The valuation does not take into account any diminution in value attributable to the four year vesting restrictions placed on the awards. The quantity of the restricted stock units awarded in 2005 was: Mr. Heinemann, 10,000; Mr. Goehring, 5,000; Mr. Duginski, 5,000; Mr. Magruder, 5,000; and Mr. Crawford, 2,500. |
(3) |
Based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model, the weighted average fair value of options at the date of grant for the named Executive Officers in 2005 was: Mr. Heinemann, $1,548,750; Mr. Goehring, $413,000; Mr. Duginski, $516,250; Mr. Magruder, $516,250; and Mr. Crawford, $206,500. |
(4) |
Includes all other compensation as disclosed in the following table. |
All Other Compensation |
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Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Company Matching Contributions to 401(k) Plan ($) |
Executive Life Insurance Related Compensation ($) |
Company Auto Allowance ($) |
401(k) Excess Company Matching Paid in 2005 ($)(5) |
Other Compensation ($)(6) |
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Robert
F. Heinemann |
2005 | $ | 18,583 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
President and |
2004 | $ | 5,625 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 332,083 | ||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer |
2003 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
Ralph
J. Goehring |
2005 | $ | 17,071 | $ | 11,250 | $ | 9,000 | $ | 3,477 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President |
2004 | $ | 16,664 | $ | 639 | $ | 4,875 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
and
Chief Financial Officer |
2003 | $ | 13,837 | $ | 11,575 | $ | 1,000 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
Michael
Duginski |
2005 | $ | 18,721 | $ | 10,750 | $ | 9,000 | $ | 375 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President |
2004 | $ | 18,275 | $ | 210 | $ | 7,125 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
of
Corporate Development |
2003 | $ | 13,617 | $ | 5,592 | $ | 1,000 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
and
California |
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Logan
Magruder (7) |
2005 | $ | 18,896 | $ | 10,750 | $ | 9,000 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
Executive Vice President |
2004 | $ | 15,575 | $ | | $ | 7,125 | $ | | $ | 429,302 | ||||||||||||||||
of
Rocky Mountain and |
2003 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
Mid-Continent Region |
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George
T. Crawford |
2005 | $ | 14,439 | $ | 9,125 | $ | 11,400 | $ | 261 | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
Vice
President of |
2004 | $ | 15,040 | $ | 427 | $ | 8,550 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
California Production |
2003 | $ | 11,467 | $ | 7,628 | $ | 3,380 | $ | | $ | |
(5) |
These amounts represent the amount of the Companys matching contribution to the 401(k) Plan that can not be contributed on behalf of the Executive Officers to the 401(k) Plan due to IRC limitations of compensation or plan contribution limits. These amounts are paid as additional compensation in the year following the year earned. |
(6) |
Mr. Heinemanns compensation for 2004 includes a $300,000 signing bonus upon his acceptance of the full time position of President and Chief Executive Officer paid in June of 2004 and $32,083 paid to Mr. Heinemann for his services as a Director and Chairman of the Board prior to becoming an employee. Mr. Magruders compensation for 2003 includes $300,000 paid on September 5, 2003 as a success fee upon the Companys purchase of the Brundage Canyon property and $129,302 which he received as consulting fees prior to his employment with the Company which occurred on August 29, 2003. |
(7) |
On March 23, 2006, Mr. Magruder submitted his resignation as an Officer and employee of the Company. |
Name |
Number of Securities Underlying Options Granted(1) |
Percent of Total Options Granted to Employees in 2005(2) |
Exercise Price per Share |
Expiration Date |
Hypothetical Value at Grant Date (3) |
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Mr.
Heinemann |
75,000 | 29 | % | $ | 61.29 | Dec.15,
2015 |
$ | 1,548,750 | ||||||||||||||
Mr.
Goehring |
20,000 | 8 | % | $ | 61.29 | Dec.15,
2015 |
$ | 413,000 | ||||||||||||||
Mr.
Duginski |
25,000 | 10 | % | $ | 61.29 | Dec.15,
2015 |
$ | 516,250 | ||||||||||||||
Mr.
Magruder* |
25,000 | 10 | % | $ | 61.29 | Dec.15,
2015 |
$ | 516,250 | ||||||||||||||
Mr.
Crawford |
10,000 | 4 | % | $ | 61.29 | Dec.15,
2015 |
$ | 206,500 |
(1) |
Option holders vest in the granted options at the rate of 25% per year, commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date and all grants were at market value on the grant dates. Effective January 1, 2004, the Company voluntarily adopted the fair value method of accounting as prescribed by SFAS 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. |
(2) |
In 2005, the Company granted 259,463 Options to employees. |
(3) |
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of the Companys stock. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercises and employee terminations within the valuation model; separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise behavior are considered separately for valuation purposes. The expected term of options granted is based on historical exercise behavior and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on U.S. Treasury rates in effect at the time of grant. |
2005 |
||||||
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Expected
Volatility |
28%
32% |
|||||
Weighted-average
volatility |
32% |
|||||
Expected
dividends |
.92%
1.3% |
|||||
Expected term
(in years) |
4
5 |
|||||
Risk-free
rate |
3.8%
4.4% |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options at 12-31-2005 |
Value of Unexercised In-the- Money Options at 12-31-2005 (A) |
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Name |
Shares Acquired on Exercise(B) |
Value Realized(C) |
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Mr.
Heinemann |
| $ | | 51,250 | 198,750 | $ | 1,334,600 | $ | 2,818,200 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr.
Goehring |
31,698 | $ | 3,198,938 | 65,000 | 65,000 | $ | 2,366,625 | $ | 1,080,075 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr.
Duginski |
4,902 | $ | 478,900 | 35,000 | 80,000 | $ | 1,139,625 | $ | 1,503,175 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr.
Magruder* |
| $ | | 38,750 | 81,250 | $ | 1,329,850 | $ | 1,575,550 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr.
Crawford |
| $ | | 76,250 | 38,750 | $ | 2,995,925 | $ | 735,825 |
(A) |
The December 30, 2005 New York Stock Exchange closing price of
$57.20, the last trading day of the year, was used to value options. |
(B) |
The shares acquired are the number of shares issued after taxes are withheld on the value realized. |
(C) |
The value realized is the gross amount of gain realized upon exercise of the holders options. |
* |
On March 23, 2006, Mr. Magruder submitted his resignation as an Officer and employee of the Company. |
As of December 31, 2005 |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plan Category |
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (1) (a) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (2) (c) |
||||||||||||
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders |
1,625,763 | $ | 33.52 | 1,080,187 | |||||||||||
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders |
-0- | N/A | -0- | ||||||||||||
Total |
1,625,763 | $ | 33.52 | 1,080,187 |
(1) |
Does not include 61,319 shares earned and reserved for issuance from the Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan for past compensation deferred. |
(2) |
Does not include 183,768 shares available and reserved for future issuance from the Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan in lieu of future compensation deferred by the Directors. |
Cumulative Total Return |
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12/00 |
12/01 |
12/02 |
12/03 |
12/04 |
12/05 |
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BERRY PETROLEUM
COMPANY |
100.00 | 120.64 | 134.27 | 163.83 | 392.38 | 475.23 | |||||||||||||||||||||
S & P
500 |
100.00 | 88.12 | 68.64 | 88.33 | 97.94 | 102.75 | |||||||||||||||||||||
RUSSELL
2000 |
100.00 | 102.49 | 81.49 | 120.00 | 142.00 | 148.46 | |||||||||||||||||||||
DOW JONES US
EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION |
100.00 | 91.81 | 93.80 | 122.93 | 174.41 | 288.33 | |||||||||||||||||||||
PEER
GROUP |
100.00 | 65.70 | 82.19 | 113.11 | 175.64 | 258.36 |
2005 |
2004 |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audit |
$ | 909 | $ | 937 | ||||||
Audit
Related |
102 | 142 | ||||||||
Tax |
100 | 18 |
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR the Proposals. | Please Mark Here for Address Change or Comments |
o | |
SEE REVERSE SIDE |
1. | ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | |||||||||||||||
FOR all nominees listed (except as marked to the contrary below) | WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR all nominees listed below |
|||||||||||||||
o | o | 2. | Approval of the Proposal to amend the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation increasing from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value and increasing from 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 the number of authorized shares of Class B Stock, $.01 par value. | Choose
MLinksm for fast, easy and secure 24/7 online access to
your future proxy materials, investment plan statements, tax documents and
more. Simply log on to Investor ServiceDirect®at www.melloninvestor.com/isd
where step-by-step instructions will prompt you through enrollment. |
||||||||||||
01 J. Bryant 02 R. Busch III 03 W. Bush |
04 S. Cropper 05 J. Gaul 06 R. Heinemann |
07 T. Jamieson 08 J. Keller 09 M. Young |
FOR o |
AGAINST o |
ABSTAIN o |
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | ||||||||||
(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any nominee, strike a line through that nominee's name in the list above). | 3. The
Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. | ||||||||||||||
Signature ________________________Signature_____________________________________ Date ______________, 2006 |
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. If a limited liability company, please sign in limited liability company name by authorized person. |
p FOLD AND DETACH HERE p |
Vote by Internet or Telephone or Mail
24 Hours a
Day, 7 Days a Week
Internet and telephone voting is available through 11:59 PM Eastern
Time
the day prior to annual meeting day.
Your
Internet or telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in
the same manner
as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy
card.
http://www.proxyvoting.com/bry Use the Internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site. |
|
1-866-540-5760 Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you call. |
|
Mail Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. |
If you vote
your proxy by Internet or by telephone,
you do NOT need
to mail back your proxy card.
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
Proxy for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
The undersigned shareholder of Berry Petroleum Company, a Delaware corporation, hereby acknowledges receipt of
the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement and hereby appoints Robert F. Heinemann and Kenneth A. Olson, or
either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as
designated below, all the shares of the Common Stock or Class B Stock of Berry Petroleum Company held of record by the undersigned on
March 20, 2006 at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 or any adjournment thereof.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is
made, this proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 1 and FOR Proposal 2 and in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors
on any other matters that may properly come before the meeting.
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side)
Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side) |
|
p FOLD AND DETACH HERE p |