California Crude Oil Contract
UNITED
STATES
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): November 22, 2005 (November 21,
2005)
BERRY
PETROLEUM COMPANY
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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DELAWARE
(State
or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation
or Organization)
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1-9735
(Commission
File Number)
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77-0079387
(IRS
Employer
Identification
Number)
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5201
TRUXTUN AVE., STE. 300, BAKERSFIELD, CA
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
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93309
(Zip
Code)
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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))
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Item 7.01
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Regulation
FD Disclosure
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On
November 22, 2005, Berry Petroleum Company issued a news release announcing
that
it had entered into a California crude oil sales contract for its
California production for deliveries beginning February 1, 2006.
The
information contained in the press release is incorporated herein by reference
and furnished as Exhibit 99.1. The contract between Berry Petroleum Company
and
the purchaser is incorporated herein by reference and furnished as Exhibit
99.2. The guarantees are incorporated herein by reference
and
furnished as Exhibits 99.3 and 99.4.
The
information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1, 99.2, 99.3
and
99.4 are 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.
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Item 9.01
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Financial
Statements and Exhibits
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(c)
Exhibits
99.1
News
release dated November 22, 2005 announcing a California crude oil sales contract
for deliveries beginning February 1, 2006.
99.2
Crude oil sales contract for Berry’s California production for deliveries
beginning February 1, 2006.
99.3
Flying J Guaranty
99.4
Big West Guaranty
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.
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BERRY
PETROLEUM COMPANY
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By:
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/s/
Kenneth A. Olson
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Kenneth
A. Olson
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Corporate
Secretary
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Date:
November 22, 2005
Page
2 of
2
News Release -California Crude Oil Contract
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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
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Contacts:
Robert F. Heinemann, President and CEO - - Ralph J. Goehring, Executive
Vice President and CFO
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BERRY
PETROLEUM ENTERS INTO CALIFORNIA CRUDE OIL SALES CONTRACT
Bakersfield,
CA -November 22, 2005
- Berry
Petroleum Company (NYSE:BRY) entered into a new crude oil sales contract for
its
California production for deliveries beginning February 1, 2006. The per barrel
price, calculated on a monthly basis, will be the higher of 1) the West Texas
Intermediate NYMEX crude oil price less a fixed differential, or 2) heavy oil
field postings plus a premium. The contract is for a four-year term with a
one-year renewal option.
Michael
Duginski, executive vice president of Corporate Development and California,
stated “A new multi-year California crude oil sales contract provides Berry a
premium for its quantity of deliverable barrels and allows us to focus our
energies on increasing our California production. Our initial deliveries under
the contract are expected to be approximately 16,200 barrels per day or
approximately two-thirds of Berry’s total companywide production.”
Berry
Petroleum Company is a publicly traded independent oil and gas production and
exploitation company with its headquarters in Bakersfield,
California.
Safe
harbor under the “Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995”
Any
statements in this news release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such
as
"expected"
and "increasing" indicate
forward-looking statements and are made based on management’s expectations and
beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon Berry
Petroleum Company. Important factors which could affect actual results are
discussed in Part II of Berry’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, under the heading "Other Factors Affecting the Company's Business
and Financial Results" in the section titled "Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
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Flying J Contract
Big
West of California,
LLC
A
FLYING
J INC Company
1104
Country Hills Drive, Ogden Utah 84403 Phone
801-624-1607
Contract:
# P-148-0106
November
14, 2005
Berry
Petroleum Company
Attn:
Ron
Cross
5201
Truxtun Avenue, Suite 300
Bakersfield,
CA 93309
This
Agreement is made between Berry Petroleum Company, hereinafter referred to
as
“Seller”, and Big West of California, LLC, hereinafter referred to as “Buyer”,
whereby Seller agrees to sell and deliver and Buyer agrees to purchase and
receive crude oil under the terms and conditions set forth on Attachment
A,
attached hereto and which is hereby made a part of this Agreement.
Please
execute and return one copy of this Agreement if it meets with your
approval.
Berry
Petroleum Company Big
West
of California, LLC
By:
/s/Michael Duginski By:
/s/
Fred Greener
Michael
Duginski
Fred
Greener
Executive
Vice President
Executive Vice-President
Date:
November 21, 2005 Date:
November 17, 2005
Attachment
A
Big
West
Contract # P-148-0106
November
14, 2005
1.
TERM
Commencing
on February 1, 2006 and continuing through January 31, 2010. At Berry Petroleum
Company’s (“Berry”) exclusive option, Berry may extend this Agreement for an
additional one year by providing written notice to Big West of California,
LLC
(“Buyer”) at least sixty (60) days prior to January 31, 2010.
2.
QUANTITY AND QUALITY:
100%
of
crude oil as produced from the locations listed below. Buyer understands
that
crude oil volumes produced may fluctuate significantly over the term of this
Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate Seller to produce any
particular volume of crude oil or to produce any crude oil at all from any
of
the properties or for Seller to own any of the listed properties.
3.
LOCATION-BOPD, PRICE, DELIVERY AND TITLE:
South
Midway Sunset - Currently approximately 11,700 BOPD
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Price:
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Buyer
will pay the higher of 1) the monthly calendar average including
weekends
for NYMEX light sweet crude LESS $7.99 or 2) the monthly average
posted
price of Chevron, ExxonMobil, Union 76 and Shell Trading (STUSCO)
for
Midway Sunset crude oil PLUS a premium of $1.50 per barrel. Either
price
to be gravity adjusted from 13 degrees. For pricing purposes, all
deliveries shall be deemed to have been delivered in equal daily
quantities during each calendar
month.
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FOB:
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Into
connecting carriers per mutually agreeable meters. Seller will
use its
commercially reasonable best efforts to cause the crude oil to
be
delivered through one or more common carrier pipelines located
at Seller’s
South Midway Sunset central facility as such pipeline(s) may be
specified
from time to time by Buyer. Buyer is responsible to make any and
all
arrangements at its expense for the use of these common carrier
pipelines
or any other pipelines that may become available. Due to disruptions
or
down time of the designated pipeline(s), Buyer will take immediate
action
to ship the crude oil through available alternative pipelines or
such
other actions as needed in order to maintain Seller’s safe inventory
levels but, in the event Buyer is not able to achieve immediate
reasonably
acceptable alternatives, then, during times of excess inventory,
Seller
reserves the right in its discretion to put the oil through alternative
means and Seller shall provide Buyer prompt notice of such election
by
Seller.
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North
Midway Sunset - Currently approximately 1,000 BOPD
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Price:
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Buyer
will pay the higher of 1) the monthly calendar average including
weekends
for NYMEX light sweet crude LESS $7.99 or 2) the monthly average
posted
price of Chevron, ExxonMobil, Union 76 and Shell Trading (STUSCO)
for
Midway Sunset crude oil PLUS a premium of $1.50 per barrel. Either
price
to be gravity adjusted from 13 degrees. For pricing purposes, all
deliveries shall be deemed to have been delivered in equal daily
quantities during each calendar
month.
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FOB: Into
connecting carriers per mutually agreeable meters.
Placerita
- Currently approximately 3,000 BOPD
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Price:
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Buyer
will pay the higher of 1) the monthly calendar average including
weekends
for NYMEX light sweet crude LESS $8.74 or 2) the monthly average
posted
price of Chevron, ExxonMobil, Union 76 and Shell Trading (STUSCO)
for
Midway Sunset crude oil PLUS a premium of $0.75 per barrel. Either
price
to be gravity adjusted from 13 degrees. For pricing purposes, all
deliveries shall be deemed to have been delivered in equal daily
quantities during each calendar
month.
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FOB: Placerita
shipping meters into designated truck carriers.
Poso
Creek Field, McVan Area - Currently approximately 500 BOPD
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Price:
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Buyer
will pay the higher of 1) the monthly calendar average including
weekends
for NYMEX light sweet crude LESS $7.99 or 2) the monthly average
posted
price of Chevron, ExxonMobil, Union 76 and Shell Trading (STUSCO)
for
Midway Sunset crude oil PLUS a premium of $1.50 per barrel. Either
price
to be gravity adjusted from 13 degrees. For pricing purposes, all
deliveries shall be deemed to have been delivered in equal daily
quantities during each calendar
month.
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FOB: Poso
Creek tank gauges into designated truck carriers.
West
Montalvo Field - M4 Pool Area - Currently approximately 40 BOPD
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Price:
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Buyer
will pay the higher of 1) the monthly calendar average including
weekends
for NYMEX light sweet crude LESS $8.74 or 2) the monthly average
posted
price of Chevron, ExxonMobil, Union 76 and Shell Trading (STUSCO)
for
Buena Vista crude oil PLUS a premium of $0.75 per barrel. Either
price to
be gravity adjusted from 26 degrees. For pricing purposes, all
deliveries
shall be deemed to have been delivered in equal daily quantities
during
each calendar month.
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FOB:
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Montalvo
tank gauges into designated truck
carriers.
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In
the
event any one of the described posters of crude oil ceases to make such
postings, the average posted price shall be determined by averaging the postings
of the remaining described posters.
4.
PAYMENT & TAXES:
Payment
due on the twentieth (20th) of the month following the month of delivery.
If the
20th
falls on
a banking holiday Friday or Saturday, the payment will be made on the last
preceding business day. If the payment date falls on a Sunday or a banking
holiday Monday, payment will be made on the following business day.
Payment
will be made for 100% of the proceeds including all taxes by wire transfer
using
the following instructions:
Berry
Petroleum Company
Wells
Fargo Bank
ABA
121000248
Account
#4296915481
Buyer
shall be liable for and shall remit to the proper government authorities
any
current, new or additional federal, state, municipal or other regulatory
body’s
taxes, inspection fees, transfer taxes or fees, occupation taxes or other
like
assessments or charges that may be applicable to liquid hydrocarbons after
the
point of delivery and Buyer shall be responsible for remittance of any such
tax
to the appropriate governmental authority.
Seller
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer from any liability, cost
or
expense caused by any breach of Seller’s warranty set forth in Paragraph B of
the GP, as amended.
5.
INVOICING:
All
invoices and correspondence shall be mailed to the following
address:
Big
West
of California, LLC
Attn:
Crude Oil Accounting
1104
Country Hills Drive
Ogden,
Utah 84403
6.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS:
Seller
may add new production, acquired through acquisitions, at the same terms
for
similar quality of crude and locations as the crude oil covered under this
Agreement, subject to adjustments for gravity, quality and transportation
differentials. Such new production may not exceed 5,000 BOPD, cumulative
over
all locations without the mutual consent of both parties.
7.
OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
a. The
terms
stated in the ConocoPhillips General Provisions for Domestic Crude Oil
Agreements effective January 1, 1993 (“GP”), attached hereto as Exhibit A and
incorporated herein by reference, will be used to the extent that they are
not
in conflict with any of the terms in this Attachment A, provided,
however:
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1)
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The
fourth sentence of Paragraph A of the GP shall be changed to read
as
follows: “The crude oil delivered hereunder shall be merchantable and
acceptable in the applicable common or segregated stream of the
carriers
involved, but not to exceed 3% S&W (merchantable liquid hydrocarbons
are defined as unrefined liquid hydrocarbons which are suitable
for normal
refinery processing, meet specifications of delivering carriers
and are
free of foreign contaminant chemicals including, but not limited
to,
chlorinated and oxygenated
hydrocarbons).”
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2)
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the
second paragraph of Paragraph B of the GP shall be changed to read
as
follows: “Seller further warrants the crude oil delivered shall be
merchantable.”
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3)
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the
parties do not agree to comply with the specific laws, orders or
regulations identified in Paragraph C of the GP unless such party
is
otherwise subject to such laws, orders or
regulations.
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4)
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in
the first sentence of Paragraph E of the GP the phrase “acts in
furtherance of the International Energy Program,” shall be deleted. The
following shall be added at the end of the first paragraph of Paragraph
E:
“Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Buyer’s refining
facilities are shut in for Force Majeure, Buyer shall be obligated
to
trade the crude oil and to locate any alternative markets for a
period of
60 (sixty) days following the date of written notice to Seller
of such
shut-in (“Force Majeure Shut In Period”). The parties acknowledge that
there is no associated purchase/sale, or exchange of crude oil,
related to
this Agreement.”
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5)
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in
the last paragraph of Paragraph F of the GP the reference to Morgan
Guaranty Trust Company of New York shall be deleted and Wells Fargo
Bank -
San Francisco shall be substituted.
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6)
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Buyer
and Seller agree that, based upon the guarantees provided in connection
with this Agreement, Paragraph G of the GP is hereby deleted in
its
entirety.
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7)
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Paragraph
H (1) of the GP shall be amended to read as follows: “H. Termination: (1)
Right to Terminate. If a party to this Agreement (a) becomes the
subject
of bankruptcy or other insolvency proceedings, or proceedings for
the
appointment of a receiver, trustee or similar official, (b) becomes
generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, (c) makes
a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, (d) if Buyer defaults
in the
payment of any funds due under this Agreement, or (e) if Buyer
fails to
accept and purchase any crude oil delivered by Seller under this
Agreement, then the other party to this Agreement (the “Terminating
Party”) may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice of
termination. Such a termination shall be deemed to be effective
immediately prior to any of the events described in clauses (a),
(b) or
(c) of this Section H(1) and, in the case of termination for reasons
described in clauses (d) or (e) immediately upon the Buyer’s receipt of
Seller’s notice of termination. If this Agreement is associated with a
separate agreement contemplating a corresponding purchase or sale
of crude
oil, all related agreements shall be deemed to be terminated at
the same
time as this Agreement is terminated. All of the references to
Liquidating
Party in this Paragraph H shall be substituted by Terminating Party.
Upon
termination, the parties shall have no further rights or obligations
with
respect to this Agreement, except for the payment of the amount(s)
(the
‘Settlement Amount’ or ‘Settlement Amounts’) determined as provided in
Paragraph(3) of this Section.”
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8)
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The
following sentence shall be added to Paragraph H (3) of the GP:
“In the
event of a contract termination, the Settlement Amount shall be
calculated
using the estimated contract quantity of crude oil multiplied by
the
remainder of the term of this Agreement except as such Settlement
Amount
may be limited by the provisions of Paragraph H (8).” Paragraph H (3)
shall be amended by adding to the end of the first sentence thereof
the
following: ”discounted to present value at the time of payment using a
discount rate equal to the interest rate determined under Paragraph
F.”
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9)
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Paragraph
H (8) shall be added to the GP to read as follows: “(8) Force Majeure
Termination. If the Buyer terminates this Agreement as a result
of a Force
Majeure causing a shut in of its refining facilities, as provided
for in
Paragraph E, as amended, then Buyer shall be obligated to pay any
and all
Settlement Amounts for the Commodity Transactions provided for
herein for
a period of 12 months following the Force Majeure Shut In
Period.”
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10) the
governing law set forth in Paragraph M of the GP shall be California
law.
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11)
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Paragraph
Q of the GP is modified to read as follows: “Entirety of Agreement. The
Agreement between Seller and Buyer consists of that certain letter
agreement dated November 14, 2005 to which is attached Attachment
A and
these General Provisions as described in Paragraph 7(a) of Attachment
A as
modified which all together contain the Entire Agreement of the
parties;
there are no other promises, representations or warranties. Any
modification of any of the referenced documents shall only be by
written
instrument. Any conflict between the General Provisions and Attachment
A
shall be resolved in favor of Attachment A. The section headings
are for
convenience only and shall not limit or change the subject matter
of this
Agreement.”
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b. In
the
event of any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of or relating to
this
Agreement, including an action for declaratory relief, the prevailing party
in
such action or proceeding shall be entitled to recover its court costs and
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses not limited to taxable costs, including
but
not limited to phone calls, photocopies, expert witness, travel, etc., and
reasonable attorneys’ fees to be fixed by the court. Such recovery shall include
court costs, out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees on appeal, if any. The
court shall determine who is the “prevailing party,” whether or not the dispute
or controversy proceeds to final judgment. If either party is reasonably
required to incur such out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees as a result of
any claim arising out of or concerning this Agreement or any right or obligation
derived hereunder, then the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover
such
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees whether or not an action
is filed.
8. PARENTS
GUARANTY:
As
a
material condition to this Agreement, Buyer shall concurrently deliver to
Seller
a mutually agreeable continuing guaranty of Big West Oil, LLC, and a mutually
agreeable continuing guaranty of Flying J Inc.
EXHIBIT
A
TO
ATTACHMENT A
TO
NOVEMBER 3, 2005 CRUDE OIL PURCHASE AGREEMENT
(JANUARY
1, 1993 CONOCO GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR
DOMESTIC
CRUDE OIL AGREEMENTS)
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
DOMESTIC
CRUDE OIL AGREEMENTS
A. Measurement
and Tests:
All
measurements hereunder shall be made from static tank gauges on 100 percent
tank
table basis or by positive displacement meters. All measurements and tests
shall
be made in accordance with the latest ASTM or ASME-API (Petroleum PD Meter
Code)
published methods then in effect, whichever apply. Volume and gravity shall
be
adjusted to 60 degrees Fahrenheit by the use of Table 6A and 5A of the Petroleum
Measurement Tables ASTM Designation D1250 in their latest revision. The crude
oil delivered hereunder shall be marketable and acceptable in the applicable
common or segregated stream of the carriers involved but not to exceed 1%
S&W. Full deduction for all free water and S&W content shall be made
according to the API/ASTM Standard Method then in effect. Either party shall
have the right to have a representative witness all gauges, tests and
measurements. In the absence of the other party's representative, such gauges,
tests and measurements shall be deemed to be correct.
B. Warranty:
The
Seller warrants good title to all crude oil delivered hereunder and warrants
that such crude oil shall be free from all royalties, liens, encumbrances
and
all applicable foreign, federal, state and local taxes.
Seller
further warrants that the crude oil delivered shall not be contaminated by
chemicals foreign to virgin crude oil including, but not limited to chlorinated
and/or oxygenated hydrocarbons and lead. Buyer shall have the right, without
prejudice to any other remedy available to Buyer, to reject and return to
Seller
any quantities of crude oil which are found to be so contaminated, even after
delivery to Buyer.
C. Rules
and Regulations:
The
terms, provisions and activities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall
be
subject to all applicable laws, orders and regulations of all governmental
authorities. If at any time a provision hereof violates any such applicable
laws, orders or regulations, such provision shall be voided and the remainder
of
the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect unless terminated by
either party upon giving written notice to the other party hereto. If
applicable, the parties hereto agree to comply with all provisions (as amended)
of the Equal Opportunity Clause prescribed in 41 C.F.R. 60-1.4; the Affirmative
Action Clause for disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam Era prescribed
in 41 C.F.R. 60-250.4; the Affirmative Action Clause for Handicapped Workers
prescribed in 41 C.F.R. 60-741.4; 48 C.F.R. Chapter 1 Subpart 19.7 regarding
Small Business and Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns; 48 C.F.R. Chapter
1
Subpart 20.3 regarding Utilization of Labor Surplus Area Concerns; Executive
Order 12138 and regulations thereunder regarding subcontracts to women-owned
business concerns; Affirmative Action Compliance Program (41 C.F.R. 60-1.40);
annually file SF-100 Employer Information Report (41 C.F.R. 60-1.7); 41 C.F.R.
60-1.8 prohibiting segregated facilities; and the Fair Labor Standards Act
of
1938 as amended, all of which are incorporated in this Agreement by reference.
D. Hazard
Communication: Seller
shall provide its Material Safety Data Sheet ("MSDS") to Buyer. Buyer
acknowledges the hazards and risks in handling and using crude oil. Buyer
shall
read the MSDS and advise its employees, its affiliates, and third parties,
who
may purchase or come into contact with such crude oil, about the hazards
of
crude oil, as well as the precautionary procedures for handling said crude
oil,
which are set forth in such MSDS and any supplementary MSDS or written
warning(s) which Seller may provide to Buyer from time to time.
E. Force
Majeure: Except
for payment due hereunder, either party hereto shall be relieved from liability
for failure to perform hereunder for the duration and to the extent such
failure
is occasioned by war, riots, insurrections, fire, explosions, sabotage, strikes,
and other labor or industrial disturbances, acts of God or the elements,
governmental laws, regulations, or requests, acts in furtherance of the
International Energy Program, disruption or breakdown of production or
transportation facilities, delays of pipeline carrier in receiving and
delivering crude oil tendered, or by any other cause, whether similar or
not,
reasonably beyond the control of such party. Any such failures to perform
shall
be remedied with all reasonable dispatch, but neither party shall be required
to
supply substitute quantities from other sources of supply. Failure to perform
due to events of Force Majeure shall not extend the terms of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding
the above, and in the event that the Agreement is an associated purchase/sale,
or exchange of crude oil, the parties shall have the rights and obligations
described below in the circumstances described below:
(1) If,
because of Force Majeure, the party declaring Force Majeure (the "Declaring
Party") is unable to deliver part or all of the quantity of crude oil which
the
Declaring Party is obligated to deliver under the Agreement or associated
contract, the other party (the "Exchange Partner") shall have the right but
not
the obligation to reduce its deliveries of crude oil under the same Agreement
or
associated contract by an amount not to exceed the number of barrels of crude
oil that the Declaring Party fails to deliver.
(2) If,
because of Force Majeure, the Declaring Party is unable to take delivery
of part
or all of the quantity of crude oil to be delivered by the Exchange Partner
under the Agreement or associated contract, the Exchange Partner shall have
the
right but not the obligation to reduce its receipts of crude oil under the
same
Agreement or associated contract by an amount not to exceed the number of
barrels of crude oil that the Declaring Party fails to take delivery of.
F. Payment:
Unless
otherwise specified in the Special Provisions of this Agreement, Buyer agrees
to
make payment against Seller's invoice for the crude oil purchased hereunder
to a
bank designated by Seller in U.S. dollars by telegraphic transfer in immediately
available funds. Unless otherwise specified in the Special Provisions of
this
Agreement, payment will be due on or before the 20th of the month following
the
month of delivery. If payment due date is on a Saturday or New York bank
holiday
other than Monday, payment shall be due on the preceding New York banking
day.
If payment due date is on a Sunday or a Monday New York bank holiday, payment
shall be due on the succeeding New York banking day.
Payment
shall be deemed to be made on the date good funds are credited to Seller's
account at Seller's designated bank.
In
the
event that Buyer fails to make any payment when due, Seller shall have the
right
to charge interest on the amount of the overdue payment at a per annum rate
which shall be two percentage points higher than the published prime lending
rate of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York on the date payment was
due,
but not to exceed the maximum rate permitted by law.
G. Financial
Responsibility:
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, should Seller
reasonably believe it necessary to assure payment, Seller may at any time
require, by written notice to Buyer, advance cash payment or satisfactory
security in the form of a Letter or Letters of Credit at Buyer's expense
in a
form and from a bank acceptable to Seller to cover any or all deliveries
of
crude oil. If Buyer does not provide the Letter of Credit on or before the
date
specified in Seller's notice under this section, Seller or Buyer may terminate
this Agreement forthwith. However, if a Letter of Credit is required under
the
Special Provisions of this Agreement and Buyer does not provide same, then
Seller only may terminate this Agreement forthwith. In no event shall Seller
be
obligated to schedule or complete delivery of the crude oil until said Letter
of
Credit is found acceptable to Seller. Each party may offset any payments
or
deliveries due to the other party under this or any other agreement between
the
parties.
If
a
party to this Agreement (the "Defaulting Party") should (1) become the subject
of bankruptcy or other insolvency proceedings, or proceedings for the
appointment of a receiver, trustee, or similar official, (2) become generally
unable to pay its debts as they become due, or (3) make a general assignment
for
the benefit of creditors, the other party to this Agreement may withhold
shipments without notice.
H. Liquidation:
(1) Right
to
Liquidate. At any time after the occurrence of one or more of the events
described in the third paragraph of Section G, Financial Responsibility,
the
other party to the Agreement (the "Liquidating Party") shall have the right,
at
its sole discretion, to liquidate this Agreement by terminating this Agreement.
Upon termination, the parties shall have no further rights or obligations
with
respect to this Agreement, except for the payment of the amount(s) (the
"Settlement Amount" or "Settlement Amounts") determined as provided in Paragraph
(3) of this section.
(2) Multiple
Deliveries. If this Agreement provides for multiple deliveries of one or
more
types of crude oil in the same or different delivery months, or for the purchase
or exchange of crude oil by the parties, all deliveries under this Agreement
to
the same party at the same delivery location during a particular delivery
month
shall be considered a single commodity transaction ("Commodity Transaction")
for
the purpose of determining the Settlement Amount(s). If the Liquidating Party
elects to liquidate this Agreement, the Liquidating Party must terminate
all
Commodity Transactions under this Agreement.
(3) Settlement
Amount. With respect to each terminated Commodity Transaction, the Settlement
Amount shall be equal to the contract quantity of crude oil, multiplied by
the
difference between the contract price per barrel specified in this Agreement
(the "Contract Price") and the market price per barrel of crude oil on the
date
the Liquidating Party terminates this Agreement (the "Market Price"). If
the
Market Price exceeds the Contract Price in a Commodity Transaction, the selling
party shall pay the Settlement Amount to the buying party. If the Market
Price
is less than the Contract Price in a Commodity Transaction, the buying party
shall pay the Settlement Amount to the selling party. If the Market Price
is
equal to the Contract Price in a Commodity Transaction, no Settlement Amount
shall be due.
(4) Termination
Date. For the purpose of determining the Settlement Amount, the date on which
the Liquidating Party terminates this Agreement shall be deemed to be (a)
the
date on which the Liquidating Party sends written notice of termination to
the
Defaulting Party, if such notice of termination is sent by telex or facsimile
transaction; or (b) the date on which the Defaulting Party receives written
notice of termination from the Liquidating Party, if such notice of termination
is given by United States mail or a private mail delivery service.
(5) Market
Price. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Market Price of crude
oil sold or exchanged under this Agreement shall be the price for crude oil
for
the delivery month specified in this Agreement and at the delivery location
that
corresponds to the delivery location specified in this Agreement, as reported
in
Platt's Oilgram Price Report ("Platt's") for the date on which the Liquidating
Party terminates this Agreement. If Platt's reports a range of prices for
crude
oil on that date, the Market Price shall be the arithmetic average of the
high
and low prices reported by Platt's. If Platt's does not report prices for
the
crude oil being sold under this Agreement, the Liquidating Party shall determine
the Market Price of such crude oil in a commercially reasonable manner, unless
otherwise provided in this Agreement.
(6) Payment
of Settlement Amount. Any Settlement Amount due upon termination of this
Agreement shall be paid in immediately available funds within two business
days
after the Liquidating Party terminates this Agreement. However, if this
Agreement provides for more than one Commodity Transaction, or if Settlement
Amounts are due under other agreements terminated by the Liquidating Party,
the
Settlement Amounts due to each party for such Commodity Transactions and/or
agreements shall be aggregated. The party owing the net amount after such
aggregation shall pay such net amount to the other party in immediately
available funds within two business days after the date on which the Liquidating
Party terminates this Agreement.
(7) Miscellaneous.
This section shall not limit the rights and remedies available to the
Liquidating Party by law or under other provisions of this Agreement. The
parties hereby acknowledge that this Agreement constitutes a forward contract
for purposes of Section 556 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
I. Equal
Daily Deliveries: For
pricing purposes only, unless otherwise specified in the Special Provisions,
all
crude oil delivered hereunder during any calendar month shall be considered
to
have been delivered in equal daily quantities during such month.
J. Exchange
Balancing:
If
volumes are exchanged, each party shall be responsible for maintaining the
exchange in balance on a month-to-month basis, as near as pipeline or other
transportation conditions will permit. In all events upon termination of
this
Agreement and after all monetary obligations under this Agreement have been
satisfied, any volume imbalance existing at the conclusion of this Agreement
of
less than 1,000 barrels will be declared in balance. Any volume imbalance
of
1,000 barrels or more, limited to the total contract volume, will be settled
by
the underdelivering party making delivery of the total volume imbalance in
accordance with the delivery provisions of this Agreement applicable to the
underdelivering party, unless mutually agreed to the contrary. The request
to
schedule all volume imbalances must be confirmed in writing by one party
or both
parties. Volume imbalances confirmed by the 20th of the month shall be delivered
during the calendar month after the volume imbalance is confirmed. Volume
imbalances confirmed after the 20th of the month shall be delivered during
the
second calendar month after the volume imbalance is confirmed.
K. Delivery,
Title, and Risk of Loss:
Delivery, title, and risk of loss of the crude oil delivered hereunder shall
pass from Seller to Buyer as follows: For
lease
delivery locations, delivery of the crude oil to the Buyer shall be effected
as
the crude oil passes the last permanent delivery flange and/or meter connecting
the Seller's lease/unit storage tanks or processing facilities to the Buyer's
carrier. Title to and risk of loss of the crude oil shall pass from Seller
to
Buyer at the point of delivery.
For
delivery locations other than lease/unit delivery locations, delivery of
the
crude oil to the Buyer shall be effected as the crude oil passes the last
permanent delivery flange and/or meter connecting the delivery facility
designated by the Seller to the Buyer's carrier. If delivery is by in-line
transfer, delivery of the crude oil to the Buyer shall be effected at the
particular pipeline facility designated in this Agreement. Title to and risk
of
loss of the crude oil shall pass from the Seller to the Buyer upon
delivery.
L. Term:
Unless
otherwise specified in the Special Provisions, delivery months begin at 7:00
a.m. on the first day of the calendar month and end at 7:00 a.m. on the first
day of the following calendar month.
M. Governing
Law:
This
Agreement and any disputes arising hereunder shall be governed by the laws
of
the State of Texas.
N. Necessary
Documents: Upon
request, each party agrees to furnish all substantiating documents incident
to
the transaction, including a Delivery Ticket for each volume delivered and
an
invoice for any month in which the sums are due.
O. Waiver:
No
waiver
by either party regarding the performance of the other party under any of
the
provisions of this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of any subsequent
performance under the same or any other provisions.
P. Assignment:
Neither
party shall assign this Agreement or any rights hereunder without the written
consent of the other party unless such assignment is made to a person
controlling, controlled by or under common control of assignor, in which
event
assignor shall remain responsible for nonperformance.
Q. Entirety
of Agreement: The
Special Provisions and these General Provisions contain the entire Agreement
of
the parties; there are no other promises, representations or warranties.
Any
modification of this Agreement shall be by written instrument. Any conflict
between the Special Provisions and these General Provisions shall be resolved
in
favor of the Special Provisions. The section headings are for convenience
only
and shall not limit or change the subject matter of this Agreement.
R. Definitions:
When
used
in this Agreement, the terms listed below have the following
meanings:
"API"
means the American Petroleum Institute.
"ASME"
means the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
"ASTM"
means the American Society for Testing Materials.
"Barrel"
means 42 U.S. gallons of 231 cubic inches per gallon corrected to 60 degrees
Fahrenheit.
"Carrier"
means a pipeline, barge, truck, or other suitable transporter of crude
oil.
"Crude
Oil" means crude oil or condensate, as appropriate.
"Day,"
"month," and "year" mean, respectively, calendar day, calendar month, and
calendar year, unless otherwise specified.
"Delivery
Ticket" means a shipping/loading document or documents stating the type and
quality of crude oil delivered, the volume delivered and method of measurement,
the corrected specific gravity, temperature, and S&W content.
"Invoice"
means a statement setting forth at least the following information: The date(s)
of delivery under the transaction; the location(s) of delivery; the volume(s);
price(s); the specific gravity and gravity adjustments to the price(s) (where
applicable); and the term(s) of payment.
"S&W"
means sediment and water.
Flying J Guaranty
Flying
J Inc.
1104
Country Hills Drive, Ogden Utah 84403 Phone
801-624-1607
Contract:
# P-148-0106
CONTINUING
GUARANTY
1.
Guaranty; Definitions.
For
valuable consideration, the undersigned Flying J Inc., a Utah corporation
(“Guarantor”), absolutely and unconditionally, guarantees and promises to pay to
Berry Petroleum Company, a Delaware corporation (“Berry”), or order, on demand
in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available
funds, any Indebtedness of Big West of California, LLC, (“Big West”) to Berry.
Guarantor is financially interested in Big West and acknowledges that financial
accommodations extended to Big West will be of substantial benefit to Guarantor.
Big West has entered into that certain Crude Oil Purchase Contract dated
November 14, 2005 (“Contract”), pursuant to which Big West will purchase
substantially all of Berry’s crude oil production in California and Berry is
willing to enter into such Contract, but only upon the condition that Guarantor
executes this Guaranty. In order to induce Berry to enter into the Contract,
and
in consideration thereof, Guarantor hereby agrees to this Guaranty. The
term
“Indebtedness” is used herein in its most comprehensive sense and includes the
Contract and any and all advances, debts, obligations and liabilities of
Big
West to Berry, including, without limitation, any obligation heretofore,
now or
hereafter made, incurred or created, whether voluntary or involuntary and
however arising, whether due or not due, absolute or contingent, liquidated,
determined or undetermined, and whether Big West may be liable individually
or
jointly, or whether recovery upon such Indebtedness may be or hereafter
become
unenforceable. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the aggregate
amount payable by the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall not exceed
Seventy-Five Million Dollars ($75,000,000.00).
2.
Continuing Guaranty.
This is
a continuing guaranty and all rights, powers and remedies hereunder shall
apply
to all past, present and future Indebtedness of Big West to Berry, including
that arising under successive transactions which shall either continue
the
Indebtedness, increase or decrease it, or from time to time create new
Indebtedness after all or any prior Indebtedness has been satisfied, and
notwithstanding the dissolution, liquidation or bankruptcy of Berry or
Guarantor
or any other event or proceeding affecting Berry or Guarantor. The obligations
of Guarantor hereunder shall be in addition to any obligations of Guarantor
under any other guaranties of any liabilities or obligations of Big West
or any
other persons heretofore or hereafter given to Berry unless said other
guaranties are modified or revoked in writing; and this Guaranty shall
not,
unless herein provided, affect or invalidate any such other guaranties.
The
liability of Guarantor to Berry shall at all times be deemed to be the
aggregate
liability of Guarantor under the terms of this Guaranty and of any other
guaranties heretofore given by Guarantor to Berry and not expressly revoked,
modified or invalidated.
3.
Obligations Joint and Several; Separate Actions; Waiver of Statute of
Limitations; Reinstatement of Liability.
The
obligations hereunder are joint and several and independent of the obligations
of Big West, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted
against Guarantor whether action is brought against Big West or any other
person
or whether Big West or any other person is joined in any such action or
actions.
Guarantor acknowledges that there are no conditions precedent to the
effectiveness of this Guaranty other than this Guaranty shall not be effective
until such time and at any time as the Equity (Equity is defined as members’ or
shareholders’ equity as defined by generally accepted accounting principles) of
Big West Oil, LLC, a limited liability company, is less than Four Hundred
Million Dollars ($400,000,000.00) and that this Guaranty is in full force
and
effect and is binding on Guarantor as of the date written below, regardless
of
whether Berry obtains collateral or any guaranties from others or takes
any
other action contemplated by Guarantor. Guarantor waives the benefit of
any
statute of limitations affecting Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the
enforcement thereof, and Guarantor agrees that any payment of any Indebtedness
or other act which shall toll any statute of limitations applicable thereto
shall similarly operate to toll such statute of limitations applicable
to
Guarantor’s’ liability hereunder. The liability of Guarantor hereunder shall be
reinstated and revived and the rights of Berry shall continue if and to
the
extent for any reason any amount at any time paid on account of any Indebtedness
guaranteed hereby is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by Berry,
whether
as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise,
all
as though such amount had not been paid. The determination as to whether
any
amount so paid must be rescinded or restored shall be made by Berry in
its sole
discretion; provided, however, that if Berry chooses to contest any such
matter
at the request of Guarantor, Guarantor agrees to indemnify and hold Berry
harmless from and against all costs and expenses, including reasonable
attorney
fees, expended or incurred by Berry in connection therewith, including,
without
limitation, in any litigation with respect thereto.
4.
Authorizations to Berry.
Guarantor authorizes Berry, either before or after revocation hereof, without
notice to or demand on Guarantor and without affecting Guarantor’s liability
hereunder, from time to time to: (a) alter, compromise, renew, extend,
accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, or otherwise change
the
terms of the Indebtedness or any part thereof, including increase or decrease
of
the rate of interest thereon; (b) take and hold security for the payment
of this
Guaranty or the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, and exchange, enforce,
waive and release any such security; (c) apply such security and direct
the
order or manner of sale thereof, including, without limitation, a nonjudicial
sale permitted by the terms of any controlling security agreement or deed
of
trust, as Berry in its discretion may determine; (d) release or substitute
any
one or more of the endorsers or any other Guarantors of the Indebtedness;
and
(e) apply payments received by Berry from Big West to any Indebtedness
of Big
West to Berry, in such order as Berry shall determine in its sole discretion,
whether or not any such Indebtedness is covered by this Guaranty, and Guarantor
hereby waives any provision of law regarding application of payments which
specifies otherwise. Berry may without notice assign this Guaranty in whole
or
in part.
5.
Representations and Warranties.
Guarantor represents and warrants that; (a) this Guaranty is executed at
Big
West’s request; (b) Guarantor has not sold, leased, assigned, encumbered,
hypothecated, transferred or otherwise disposed of all or a substantial
or
material part of Guarantor’s assets other than in the ordinary course of
business; and (c) Guarantor has established adequate means of obtaining
from Big
West on a continuing basis financial and other information pertaining to
Big
West’s financial condition. Guarantor agrees to keep adequately informed from
such means of any facts, events or circumstances that might in any way
affect
Guarantor’s risks hereunder, and Guarantor further agrees that Berry shall have
no obligation to disclose to Guarantor any information or material about
Big
West that is acquired by Berry in any manner. As an ongoing obligation
and as a
material condition to Berry to enter into the Indebtedness with Big West,
Guarantor agrees to provide to Berry copies of Guarantor’s annual audited and
quarterly unaudited financial statements within 90 days for the annual
and
within 45 days for the quarterly after the end of the reporting period
reflected
in such statements at all times and so long as this Guaranty is in effect
with
such financial statements to be accompanied with a certification in a form
reasonably satisfactory to Berry by the Chief Financial Officer of Guarantor
certifying that the financial statements are accurate and not misleading
and
there have been no material adverse changes in the business of Guarantor.
Berry
agrees to keep said financial statements confidential other than for purposes
of
enforcing this Guaranty or to provide to Berry’s lenders, if required by such
lenders.
6.
Guarantor Waivers.
Guarantor waives any right to require Berry to: (a) proceed against or
exhaust
any security, if any, held by Berry or any other person; (b) give notice
of the
terms, time and place of any public or private sale of personal property
security held from Big West or any other person, or otherwise comply with
the
provisions of Section 9611 of the California Uniform Commercial Code; (c)
pursue
any other remedy in Berry’s power; or (d) make any presentments or demands for
performance, or give any notices of nonperformance, protests, notices of
protest
or notices of dishonor.
Guarantor
waives any defense based upon: (a) any disability of Big West or any other
person; (b) the cessation or limitation from any cause whatsoever, other
than
payment in full, of the Indebtedness of Big West or any other person; (c)
any
lack of authority of any officer, director, partner, agent or any other
person
acting or purporting to act on behalf of Big West which is a corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or other type of entity, or any
defect in
the formation of such Big West; (d) any act or omission by Berry which
directly
or indirectly results in or aids the discharge of Big West or any Indebtedness
by operation of law or otherwise; or (e) any modification of the terms
of the
Indebtedness.
Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, Guarantor expressly waives any
and all
benefits and defenses under Civil Code Section 2822, which provides that
in
instances where Berry accepts a partial payment of the indebtedness from
Big
West, Big West may designate the portion of the indebtedness that is to
be
satisfied by such partial payment.
Unless
relinquished by agreement, guarantor normally has the right to proceed
against
borrower for the reimbursement of funds that guarantor pays to the beneficiary
of the guarantee for the benefit of the borrower (called
“subrogation”).
Guarantor
has certain protection, under the California Code of Civil Procedure, against
personal liability for the repayment of the Indebtedness after Berry forecloses
on any real property that may be security for the Contract. Berry may foreclose
either by (i) court proceeding (a “judicial foreclosure”) or (ii) the power of
sale provision in the deed of trust (a “non-judicial foreclosure”).
Should
Berry choose to foreclose on any real property through a non-judicial sale
and
should the proceeds of such foreclosure sale(s) not satisfy the Indebtedness
in
full, Code of Civil Procedure Section 580d and court rulings do not allow
Berry
to recover the difference between the Indebtedness and the proceeds of
such
foreclosure sale(s) from Guarantor. In other words, Berry, by foreclosing
by
non-judicial sale, would not be able to obtain a judgment against Guarantor
personally to pay the difference between the Indebtedness and the proceeds
of
such foreclosure sale(s).
GUARANTOR
WAIVES ALL RIGHTS AND DEFENSE ARISING OUT OF AN ELECTION OF REMEDIES BY
THE
CREDITOR, EVEN THOUGH THAT ELECTION OF REMEDIES, SUCH AS A NON-JUDICIAL
FORECLOSURE WITH RESPECT TO SECURITY FOR A GUARANTEED OBLIGATION, HAS DESTROYED
THE GUARANTOR’S RIGHT OF SUBROGATION AND REIMBURSEMENT AGAINST THE PRINCIPAL BY
THE OPERATION OF SECTION 580d OF THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE OR
OTHERWISE.
7.
Guarantor’s Understanding With Respect to Waivers.
Guarantor agrees that each of the waivers set forth above are made with
Guarantor’s full knowledge of its significance and consequences, and agrees that
the waivers are reasonable and not contrary to public policy or law. If
any of
said waivers are determined to be contrary to any applicable law or public
policy, such waivers shall be effective only to the extent permitted by
law.
8.
This
Section intentionally left blank.
9.
Bankruptcy of Big West.
Notwithstanding any modification, discharge or extension of the Indebtedness
or
any amendment, modification, stay or cure of Berry’s rights which may occur in
any bankruptcy or reorganization case or proceeding concerning Big West,
whether
permanent or temporary, and whether assented to by Berry, Guarantor hereby
agrees that Guarantor shall be obligated hereunder to pay and perform the
Indebtedness and discharge its other indebtedness in accordance with the
terms
of the obligations and the terms of this Guaranty in effect on the date
hereof.
Guarantor understands and acknowledges that by virtue of this Guaranty,
it has
specifically assumed any and all risks of a bankruptcy or reorganization
case or
proceeding with respect to Big West. As an example and not in any way of
limitation, a subsequent modification of the Indebtedness in any reorganization
case concerning Big West shall not affect the indebtedness of Guarantor
to pay
and perform the Indebtedness in accordance with the original terms.
10.
Financial Condition of Big West. Guarantor
acknowledges that certain facts concerning Big West and Big West’s financial
condition may be known or become known to Berry. Guarantor waivers any
right to
require Berry to furnish such information to Guarantor and agrees not to
assert
any defense Guarantor may have based upon Berry’s failure to furnish such
information. Guarantor acknowledges that, in executing this Guaranty and
at all
times hereafter, Guarantor has relied and will continue to rely upon its
own
investigation and sources other than Berry for all information and facts
relating to Big West and Big West’s financial condition.
11.
Waiver of Authentication of Validity of Acts of Corporation, Partnership
or
Limited Liability Company. As
Big
West is a limited liability company, it is not necessary for Berry to inquire
into the power of Big West or the officers, directors, partners or agents
acting
or purporting to act in its behalf, and any Indebtedness made or created
in
reliance upon the professed exercise of such power shall be guaranteed
hereunder.
12.
Disclosure of Information. Guarantor
acknowledges that Berry has the right to sell, assign, transfer, negotiate
or
grant participations in all or any part of, or any interest in, any Indebtedness
of Big West to Berry and any obligations with respect thereto, including
this
Guaranty. In connection therewith, Berry may disclose all documents and
information which Berry now has or hereafter requires relating to Guarantor
and
this Guaranty, whether furnished by Big West, Guarantor or otherwise. Guarantor
further agrees that Berry may disclose such documents and information to
Big
West.
13.
Costs, Expenses and Attorney Fees. All
payments, advances, charges, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney
fees, made or incurred by Berry in the enforcement of this Guaranty or
in the
collection of any of the Indebtedness of Big West to Berry shall be paid
by
Guarantor immediately and without demand, together with interest at a rate
per
annum equal to the greater of ten percent (10%) or the interest rate being
charged by Berry’s primary lender to Berry under outstanding credit
facilities.
14.
Arbitration.
a.
Mandatory
Arbitration.
Any
controversy or claim (in an amount in excess of the small claims court
maximum
jurisdictional limit) arising out of or relating to this Guaranty or any
agreements or instruments relating hereto or delivered in connection herewith,
or arising out of or relating to any aspect of the past, present or future
relationships of the parties hereto, including but not limited to a claim
based
on or arising from an alleged tort, shall, at the request of any party,
be
determined by arbitration by a single neutral arbitrator in accordance
with
California arbitration procedure (California Code of Civil Procedure Section
1280 et seq.) And under the rules of the American Arbitration Association
(but
not under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association). Judgment
upon
the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction.
The
institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuit
of a
provisional or ancillary remedy shall not constitute a waiver of the right
of
any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim
to
arbitration if any other party contests such action for judicial
relief.
This
paragraph shall apply if and only if at the time of the proposed submission
none
of the obligations to Berry described in this Guaranty are secured by real
property collateral. No controversy or claim shall be submitted to arbitration
without the consent of all parties if, at the time of the proposed submission,
any such obligation is secured by real property collateral.
b.
Judicial
Reference.
In any
judicial action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty
or any
agreements or instruments relating hereto or delivered in connection herewith,
including but not limited to a claim based on or arising from an alleged
tort,
if the controversy or claim is not submitted to arbitration as provided
and
limited in paragraph a of this Section, all decisions of fact and law shall
be
determined by a reference in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure
Section 638 et seq.
The
parties shall designate to the court a referee in the same manner as arbitrators
are selected in American Arbitration Association-sponsored proceedings
and
pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.6.
Judgment
upon the award rendered by such referee shall be entered in the court in
which
such proceedings was commenced in accordance with California Code of Civil
Procedure Sections 644 and 645.
c.
Provisional
Remedies Self-help and Foreclosure.
Neither
paragraph a nor any other provision of this arbitration section shall limit
the
right of any party to this Guaranty to foreclosure against or sell any
real or
personal property collateral or security or to obtain provisional or ancillary
remedies such as attachment, injunctive relief for the appointment of a
receiver
from a court of competent jurisdiction before, after or during the pendency
of
any arbitration. At Berry’s option, foreclosure under a deed of trust or
mortgage may be accomplished either by exercise of power of sale under
the deed
of trust or mortgage or by judicial foreclosure.
d.
Miscellaneous
Arbitration Provisions.
(1)
In
the event of any dispute governed by this Section, each of the parties
shall pay
all of its own expenses, and, subject to the award of the arbitrator or
referee,
shall pay an equal share of the arbitrator’s or referee’s fees. The arbitrator
or referee shall award recovery of all costs and fees (including attorney
fees,
administrative fees, arbitrator’s or referee’s fees, and court costs) to the
prevailing party.
(2)
All
statutes of limitations which would otherwise be applicable shall apply
to any
arbitration or reference proceeding under this Section.
(3)
In
any arbitration or reference proceeding subject to these provisions, the
arbitrator or referee is specifically empowered to decide (by documents
only, or
with a hearing, at the arbitrator’s or referee’s sole discretion) pre-hearing
motions which are substantially similar to demurrers, motions to dismiss
and
motions for summary adjudication.
(4)
Any
arbitrator or referee selected pursuant to this Section shall be knowledgeable
in the subject matter of the dispute, and shall be an active attorney or
retired
judge.
15. Successors, Assigns; Governing Law.
This
Guaranty shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors
and
assigns of the parties, and shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of this State of California.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Guarantor has executed this Guaranty as
of the
date stated below.
DATE:
November 14, 2005
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FLYING
J INC., a Utah corporation
|
Its:
Treasurer
Flying J Guaranty
Big
West Oil,
LLC
A
FLYING
J INC Company
1104
Country Hills Drive, Ogden Utah 84403 Phone
801-624-1607
Contract:
# P-148-0106
CONTINUING
GUARANTY
1.
Guaranty; Definitions.
For
valuable consideration, the undersigned Big West Oil, LLC a limited liability
company (“Guarantor”), absolutely and unconditionally, guarantees and promises
to pay to Berry Petroleum Company, a Delaware corporation (“Berry”), or order,
on demand in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately
available funds, any Indebtedness of Big West of California, LLC, (“Big West”)
to Berry. Guarantor is financially interested in Big West and acknowledges
that
financial accommodations extended to Big West will be of substantial benefit
to
Guarantor. Big West has entered into that certain Crude Oil Purchase Contract
dated November 14, 2005 (“Contract”), pursuant to which Big West will purchase
substantially all of Berry’s crude oil production in California and Berry is
willing to enter into such Contract, but only upon the condition that Guarantor
executes this Guaranty. In order to induce Berry to enter into the Contract,
and
in consideration thereof, Guarantor hereby agrees to this Guaranty. The term
“Indebtedness” is used herein in its most comprehensive sense and includes the
Contract and any and all advances, debts, obligations and liabilities of
Big
West to Berry, including, without limitation, any obligation heretofore,
now or
hereafter made, incurred or created, whether voluntary or involuntary and
however arising, whether due or not due, absolute or contingent, liquidated,
determined or undetermined, and whether Big West may be liable individually
or
jointly, or whether recovery upon such Indebtedness may be or hereafter become
unenforceable. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the aggregate
amount payable by the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall not exceed
Seventy-Five Million Dollars ($75,000,000.00).
2.
Continuing Guaranty.
This is
a continuing guaranty and all rights, powers and remedies hereunder shall
apply
to all past, present and future Indebtedness of Big West to Berry, including
that arising under successive transactions which shall either continue the
Indebtedness, increase or decrease it, or from time to time create new
Indebtedness after all or any prior Indebtedness has been satisfied, and
notwithstanding the dissolution, liquidation or bankruptcy of Berry or Guarantor
or any other event or proceeding affecting Berry or Guarantor. The obligations
of Guarantor hereunder shall be in addition to any obligations of Guarantor
under any other guaranties of any liabilities or obligations of Big West
or any
other persons heretofore or hereafter given to Berry unless said other
guaranties are modified or revoked in writing; and this Guaranty shall not,
unless herein provided, affect or invalidate any such other guaranties. The
liability of Guarantor to Berry shall at all times be deemed to be the aggregate
liability of Guarantor under the terms of this Guaranty and of any other
guaranties heretofore given by Guarantor to Berry and not expressly revoked,
modified or invalidated.
3.
Obligations Joint and Several; Separate Actions; Waiver of Statute of
Limitations; Reinstatement of Liability.
The
obligations hereunder are joint and several and independent of the obligations
of Big West, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted
against Guarantor whether action is brought against Big West or any other
person
or whether Big West or any other person is joined in any such action or actions.
Guarantor acknowledges that there are no conditions precedent to the
effectiveness of this Guaranty, and that this Guaranty is in full force and
effect and is binding on Guarantor as of the date written below, regardless
of
whether Berry obtains collateral or any guaranties from others or takes any
other action contemplated by Guarantor. Guarantor waives the benefit of any
statute of limitations affecting Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the
enforcement thereof, and Guarantor agrees that any payment of any Indebtedness
or other act which shall toll any statute of limitations applicable thereto
shall similarly operate to toll such statute of limitations applicable to
Guarantor’s’ liability hereunder. The liability of Guarantor hereunder shall be
reinstated and revived and the rights of Berry shall continue if and to the
extent for any reason any amount at any time paid on account of any Indebtedness
guaranteed hereby is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by Berry, whether
as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise,
all
as though such amount had not been paid. The determination as to whether
any
amount so paid must be rescinded or restored shall be made by Berry in its
sole
discretion; provided, however, that if Berry chooses to contest any such
matter
at the request of Guarantor, Guarantor agrees to indemnify and hold Berry
harmless from and against all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney
fees, expended or incurred by Berry in connection therewith, including, without
limitation, in any litigation with respect thereto.
4.
Authorizations to Berry.
Guarantor authorizes Berry, either before or after revocation hereof, without
notice to or demand on Guarantor and without affecting Guarantor’s liability
hereunder, from time to time to: (a) alter, compromise, renew, extend,
accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, or otherwise change
the
terms of the Indebtedness or any part thereof, including increase or decrease
of
the rate of interest thereon; (b) take and hold security for the payment
of this
Guaranty or the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, and exchange, enforce,
waive and release any such security; (c) apply such security and direct the
order or manner of sale thereof, including, without limitation, a nonjudicial
sale permitted by the terms of any controlling security agreement or deed
of
trust, as Berry in its discretion may determine; (d) release or substitute
any
one or more of the endorsers or any other Guarantors of the Indebtedness;
and
(e) apply payments received by Berry from Big West to any Indebtedness of
Big
West to Berry, in such order as Berry shall determine in its sole discretion,
whether or not any such Indebtedness is covered by this Guaranty, and Guarantor
hereby waives any provision of law regarding application of payments which
specifies otherwise. Berry may without notice assign this Guaranty in whole
or
in part.
5.
Representations and Warranties.
Guarantor represents and warrants that; (a) this Guaranty is executed at
Big
West’s request; (b) Guarantor has not sold, leased, assigned, encumbered,
hypothecated, transferred or otherwise disposed of all or a substantial or
material part of Guarantor’s assets other than in the ordinary course of
business; and (c) Guarantor has established adequate means of obtaining from
Big
West on a continuing basis financial and other information pertaining to
Big
West’s financial condition. Guarantor agrees to keep adequately informed from
such means of any facts, events or circumstances that might in any way affect
Guarantor’s risks hereunder, and Guarantor further agrees that Berry shall have
no obligation to disclose to Guarantor any information or material about
Big
West that is acquired by Berry in any manner. As an ongoing obligation and
as a
material condition to Berry to enter into the Indebtedness with Big West,
Guarantor agrees to provide to Berry copies of Guarantor’s annual audited and
quarterly unaudited financial statements within 90 days for the annual and
within 45 days for the quarterly after the end of the reporting period reflected
in such statements at all times and so long as this Guaranty is in effect
with
such financial statements to be accompanied with a certification in a form
reasonably satisfactory to Berry by the Chief Financial Officer of Guarantor
certifying that the financial statements are accurate and not misleading
and, to
the extent that the financial statements reflect a Big West Equity of at
least
Four Hundred Million Dollars ($400,000,000.00), a certification that there
have
been no material adverse changes in the business of Guarantor that would
reduce
Guarantor’s Equity (Equity is defined as members’ or shareholders’ equity as
defined by generally accepted accounting principles) below Four Hundred Million
Dollars ($400,000,000.00). Berry agrees to keep said financial statements
confidential other than for purposes of enforcing this Guaranty or to provide
to
Berry’s lenders, if required by such lenders.
6.
Guarantor Waivers.
Guarantor waives any right to require Berry to: (a) proceed against or exhaust
any security, if any, held by Berry or any other person; (b) give notice
of the
terms, time and place of any public or private sale of personal property
security held from Big West or any other person, or otherwise comply with
the
provisions of Section 9611 of the California Uniform Commercial Code; (c)
pursue
any other remedy in Berry’s power; or (d) make any presentments or demands for
performance, or give any notices of nonperformance, protests, notices of
protest
or notices of dishonor.
Guarantor
waives any defense based upon: (a) any disability of Big West or any other
person; (b) the cessation or limitation from any cause whatsoever, other
than
payment in full, of the Indebtedness of Big West or any other person; (c)
any
lack of authority of any officer, director, partner, agent or any other person
acting or purporting to act on behalf of Big West which is a corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or other type of entity, or any defect
in
the formation of such Big West; (d) any act or omission by Berry which directly
or indirectly results in or aids the discharge of Big West or any Indebtedness
by operation of law or otherwise; or (e) any modification of the terms of
the
Indebtedness.
Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, Guarantor expressly waives any
and all
benefits and defenses under Civil Code Section 2822, which provides that
in
instances where Berry accepts a partial payment of the indebtedness from
Big
West, Big West may designate the portion of the indebtedness that is to be
satisfied by such partial payment.
Unless
relinquished by agreement, guarantor normally has the right to proceed against
borrower for the reimbursement of funds that guarantor pays to the beneficiary
of the guarantee for the benefit of the borrower (called
“subrogation”).
Guarantor
has certain protection, under the California Code of Civil Procedure, against
personal liability for the repayment of the Indebtedness after Berry forecloses
on any real property that may be security for the Contract. Berry may foreclose
either by (i) court proceeding (a “judicial foreclosure”) or (ii) the power of
sale provision in the deed of trust (a “non-judicial foreclosure”).
Should
Berry choose to foreclose on any real property through a non-judicial sale
and
should the proceeds of such foreclosure sale(s) not satisfy the Indebtedness
in
full, Code of Civil Procedure Section 580d and court rulings do not allow
Berry
to recover the difference between the Indebtedness and the proceeds of such
foreclosure sale(s) from Guarantor. In other words, Berry, by foreclosing
by
non-judicial sale, would not be able to obtain a judgment against Guarantor
personally to pay the difference between the Indebtedness and the proceeds
of
such foreclosure sale(s).
GUARANTOR
WAIVES ALL RIGHTS AND DEFENSE ARISING OUT OF AN ELECTION OF REMEDIES BY THE
CREDITOR, EVEN THOUGH THAT ELECTION OF REMEDIES, SUCH AS A NON-JUDICIAL
FORECLOSURE WITH RESPECT TO SECURITY FOR A GUARANTEED OBLIGATION, HAS DESTROYED
THE GUARANTOR’S RIGHT OF SUBROGATION AND REIMBURSEMENT AGAINST THE PRINCIPAL BY
THE OPERATION OF SECTION 580d OF THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE OR
OTHERWISE.
7.
Guarantor’s Understanding With Respect to Waivers.
Guarantor agrees that each of the waivers set forth above are made with
Guarantor’s full knowledge of its significance and consequences, and agrees that
the waivers are reasonable and not contrary to public policy or law. If any
of
said waivers are determined to be contrary to any applicable law or public
policy, such waivers shall be effective only to the extent permitted by
law.
8.
This
Section intentionally left blank.
9.
Bankruptcy of Big West.
Notwithstanding any modification, discharge or extension of the Indebtedness
or
any amendment, modification, stay or cure of Berry’s rights which may occur in
any bankruptcy or reorganization case or proceeding concerning Big West,
whether
permanent or temporary, and whether assented to by Berry, Guarantor hereby
agrees that Guarantor shall be obligated hereunder to pay and perform the
Indebtedness and discharge its other indebtedness in accordance with the
terms
of the obligations and the terms of this Guaranty in effect on the date hereof.
Guarantor understands and acknowledges that by virtue of this Guaranty, it
has
specifically assumed any and all risks of a bankruptcy or reorganization
case or
proceeding with respect to Big West. As an example and not in any way of
limitation, a subsequent modification of the Indebtedness in any reorganization
case concerning Big West shall not affect the Indebtedness of Guarantor to
pay
and perform the Indebtedness in accordance with the original terms.
10.
Financial Condition of Big West. Guarantor
acknowledges that certain facts concerning Big West and Big West’s financial
condition may be known or become known to Berry. Guarantor waivers any right
to
require Berry to furnish such information to Guarantor and agrees not to
assert
any defense Guarantor may have based upon Berry’s failure to furnish such
information. Guarantor acknowledges that, in executing this Guaranty and
at all
times hereafter, Guarantor has relied and will continue to rely upon its
own
investigation and sources other than Berry for all information and facts
relating to Big West and Big West’s financial condition.
11.
Waiver of Authentication of Validity of Acts of Corporation, Partnership
or
Limited Liability Company. As
Big
West is a limited liability company, it is not necessary for Berry to inquire
into the power of Big West or the officers, directors, partners or agents
acting
or purporting to act in its behalf, and any Indebtedness made or created
in
reliance upon the professed exercise of such power shall be guaranteed
hereunder.
12.
Disclosure of Information. Guarantor
acknowledges that Berry has the right to sell, assign, transfer, negotiate
or
grant participations in all or any part of, or any interest in, any Indebtedness
of Big West to Berry and any obligations with respect thereto, including
this
Guaranty. In connection therewith, Berry may disclose all documents and
information which Berry now has or hereafter requires relating to Guarantor
and
this Guaranty, whether furnished by Big West, Guarantor or otherwise. Guarantor
further agrees that Berry may disclose such documents and information to
Big
West.
13.
Costs, Expenses and Attorney Fees. All
payments, advances, charges, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney
fees, made or incurred by Berry in the enforcement of this Guaranty or in
the
collection of any of the Indebtedness of Big West to Berry shall be paid
by
Guarantor immediately and without demand, together with interest at a rate
per
annum equal to the greater of ten percent (10%) or the interest rate being
charged by Berry’s primary lender to Berry under outstanding credit
facilities.
14.
Arbitration.
a.
Mandatory
Arbitration.
Any
controversy or claim (in an amount in excess of the small claims court maximum
jurisdictional limit) arising out of or relating to this Guaranty or any
agreements or instruments relating hereto or delivered in connection herewith,
or arising out of or relating to any aspect of the past, present or future
relationships of the parties hereto, including but not limited to a claim
based
on or arising from an alleged tort, shall, at the request of any party, be
determined by arbitration by a single neutral arbitrator in accordance with
California arbitration procedure (California Code of Civil Procedure Section
1280 et seq.) And under the rules of the American Arbitration Association
(but
not under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association). Judgment
upon
the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction.
The
institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuit of
a
provisional or ancillary remedy shall not constitute a waiver of the right
of
any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim to
arbitration if any other party contests such action for judicial
relief.
This
paragraph shall apply if and only if at the time of the proposed submission
none
of the obligations to Berry described in this Guaranty are secured by real
property collateral. No controversy or claim shall be submitted to arbitration
without the consent of all parties if, at the time of the proposed submission,
any such obligation is secured by real property collateral.
b.
Judicial
Reference.
In any
judicial action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty
or any
agreements or instruments relating hereto or delivered in connection herewith,
including but not limited to a claim based on or arising from an alleged
tort,
if the controversy or claim is not submitted to arbitration as provided and
limited in paragraph a of this Section, all decisions of fact and law shall
be
determined by a reference in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure
Section 638 et seq.
The
parties shall designate to the court a referee in the same manner as arbitrators
are selected in American Arbitration Association-sponsored proceedings and
pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.6.
Judgment
upon the award rendered by such referee shall be entered in the court in
which
such proceedings was commenced in accordance with California Code of Civil
Procedure Sections 644 and 645.
c.
Provisional
Remedies Self-help and Foreclosure.
Neither
paragraph a nor any other provision of this arbitration section shall limit
the
right of any party to this Guaranty to foreclosure against or sell any real
or
personal property collateral or security or to obtain provisional or ancillary
remedies such as attachment, injunctive relief for the appointment of a receiver
from a court of competent jurisdiction before, after or during the pendency
of
any arbitration. At Berry’s option, foreclosure under a deed of trust or
mortgage may be accomplished either by exercise of power of sale under the
deed
of trust or mortgage or by judicial foreclosure.
d.
Miscellaneous
Arbitration Provisions.
(1)
In
the event of any dispute governed by this Section, each of the parties shall
pay
all of its own expenses, and, subject to the award of the arbitrator or referee,
shall pay an equal share of the arbitrator’s or referee’s fees. The arbitrator
or referee shall award recovery of all costs and fees (including attorney
fees,
administrative fees, arbitrator’s or referee’s fees, and court costs) to the
prevailing party.
(2)
All
statutes of limitations which would otherwise be applicable shall apply to
any
arbitration or reference proceeding under this Section.
(3)
In
any arbitration or reference proceeding subject to these provisions, the
arbitrator or referee is specifically empowered to decide (by documents only,
or
with a hearing, at the arbitrator’s or referee’s sole discretion) pre-hearing
motions which are substantially similar to demurrers, motions to dismiss
and
motions for summary adjudication.
(4)
Any
arbitrator or referee selected pursuant to this Section shall be knowledgeable
in the subject matter of the dispute, and shall be an active attorney or
retired
judge.
15. Successors, Assigns; Governing Law.
This
Guaranty shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors
and
assigns of the parties, and shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of this State of California.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Guarantor has executed this Guaranty as
of the
date stated below.
DATE:
November 14, 2005
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BIG
WEST OIL, LLC, a limited liability
company
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Its:
EVP