UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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): June 7, 2005 (June 7, 2005)
BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY
| DELAWARE (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
1-9735 (Commission File Number) |
77-0079387 (IRS Employer Identification Number) |
| 5201 TRUXTUN AVE., STE. 300, BAKERSFIELD,
CA (Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
93309 (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (661) 616-3900
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
| Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure |
On June 7, 2005 Berry Petroleum Company issued a news release announcing that it had been ranked number 44 by BusinessWeek on the "Hot Growth 100" list as published in the magazine's June 6, 2005 issue.
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1 is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(c) Exhibits
99.1 Press Release of Berry Petroleum Company dated June 7, 2005.
SIGNATURES
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 hereto duly authorized.
| BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY |
||||
| By: |
/s/ Kenneth A. Olson |
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| Kenneth A. Olson | ||||
| Corporate Secretary | ||||
Date: June 7, 2005
Page 2 of 2
News Release - June 7, 2005
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: Robert F. Heinemann, President and CEO - - Ralph J. Goehring,
Executive Vice President and CFO
BERRY PETROLEUM RANKED # 44 ON BUSINESSWEEK 'HOT GROWTH' COMPANIES LIST
Bakersfield, CA - June 07, 2005 - Berry Petroleum Company (NYSE:BRY), an
independent oil and gas producer headquartered in Bakersfield, California with
production in California, Utah and Colorado, made its first appearance in
BusinessWeek magazine's list of ''Hot Growth'' companies. In the special report
on the 100 best small companies as calculated by BusinessWeek, Berry ranked
number 44, based on various three-year measures.
Robert F. Heinemann, president and chief executive officer, said, ''We are
pleased to be ranked 44 by BusinessWeek on their 'Hot Growth' list and to be one
of only six oil and gas industry companies represented this year. Berry's
three-year results show sales growth of 27%, earnings growth of 43%, and return
on capital of 15%; and, indicate that our growth is a process and not a one-time
event. We are transforming Berry through acquisitions and follow-on development,
and expect our growth to continue as we execute our strategic plans.''
Companies included in the BusinessWeek survey were ranked by three-year results
in sales growth, earnings growth and return on invested capital. The ranks are
calculated by the sum of 0.5 times its rank in return on total capital plus 0.25
times its sales and profit growth ranks.
Berry Petroleum Company is a publicly traded independent oil and gas production,
exploration and exploitation company located in Bakersfield, California. The
Company estimates its proved reserves are 124 million BOE. Since August 2003,
Berry has acquired an interest in approximately 600,000 prospective acres in the
Rockies and Mid-Continent with excellent natural gas and light oil potential.
Visit www.bry.com for more information.
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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