SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 22, 2003
Berry Petroleum Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-9735 77-0079387
(State or other (Commission IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.
incorporation)
5201 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300 Bakersfield, CA 93309
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (661) 616-3900
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events
On July 22, 2003, Berry Petroleum Company, a Delaware
corporation, issued a press release, a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure
(c) Exhibits
99.1 Press Release of Berry Petroleum Company dated
July 22, 2003.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
By /s/ Kenneth A. Olson
Name: Kenneth A. Olson
Title: Corporate Secretary
and Treasurer
July 22, 2003
2
News Release
Berry Petroleum Company Phone (661) 616-3900
5201 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300 E-mail: ir@bry.com
Bakersfield, California 93309-0640 Internet: www.bry.com
Contacts: Jerry V. Hoffman, Chairman, President and CEO - -
Ralph J. Goehring, SVP & CFO
BERRY PETROLEUM SELLS AN INTEREST IN KANSAS ACREAGE
Bakersfield, CA - July 22, 2003 - Berry Petroleum Company (NYSE:BRY)
entered into a definitive agreement to sell approximately 43,000 net
acres of non-producing leases located in the Forest City Basin of
eastern Kansas that contain coalbed methane potential to Evergreen
Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EVG). Under the agreement, Berry will receive
an undisclosed amount of cash, which covers its costs in this
acreage, and will retain an overriding royalty interest. The
completion of the transaction is subject to certain conditions and
there is no assurance that all conditions will be satisfied. Closing
is expected in the third quarter of 2003.
Jerry V. Hoffman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer, stated, "Berry continues to hold a significant position in
nearby acreage and intends to pursue other coalbed methane
opportunities. This transaction provides us an association with an
experienced coalbed methane operator and we are encouraged that
Evergreen sees potential in the Forest City Basin. We believe this
association will assist Berry in exploiting its position in a more
timely and efficient manner."
Evergreen Resources is an independent energy company engaged in
the exploration, development, production, operation and acquisition
of unconventional natural gas properties. Evergreen is one of the
leading developers of coalbed methane reserves in the United States
with current operations principally focused in the Raton Basin in
southern Colorado. Evergreen also holds approximately 500,000 acres
of prospective unconventional natural gas properties in the Forest
City Basin of eastern Kansas.
Berry Petroleum Company is an independent oil and gas production
and exploitation company headquartered in Bakersfield, California.
Berry has other coalbed methane interests in Kansas, Illinois and
Wyoming and recently established an office in Denver, CO to develop a
portfolio of oil and gas assets in the Rockies.
"Safe harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995:" This release may contain descriptions of the Company's
expectations regarding future business activities. These forward-
looking statements are made in reliance upon safe harbor provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Accordingly,
actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the
forward-looking statements.
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