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): May 11, 2011

 

 

BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

DELAWARE
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or
Organization)

 

1-9735
(Commission File Number)

 

77-0079387
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)

 

1999 BROADWAY, SUITE 3700, DENVER,
COLORADO
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

80202
(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 999-4400

 

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 5.07.              Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

On May 11, 2011, Berry Petroleum Company (the “Company” or “Berry”) stockholders voted on four proposals and cast their votes as described below.  The proposals are described in detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2011.

 

Proposal 1

 

Berry stockholders elected ten individuals to the Board of Directors for the succeeding year or until their successors are duly qualified and elected as set forth below:

 

Name  

 

Votes For

 

Votes Against

 

Broker Non-Votes

 

Martin H. Young, Jr.

 

45,158,909

 

282,111

 

2,493,205

 

Robert F. Heinemann

 

45,198,748

 

242,272

 

2,493,205

 

Ralph B. Busch, III

 

44,348,415

 

1,092,605

 

2,493,205

 

William E. Bush, Jr.

 

44,549,830

 

891,190

 

2,493,205

 

Stephen L. Cropper

 

45,308,164

 

132,856

 

2,493,205

 

J. Herbert Gaul, Jr.

 

45,181,044

 

259,976

 

2,493,205

 

Stephen J. Hadden

 

45,299,859

 

141,161

 

2,493,205

 

Thomas J. Jamieson

 

44,972,636

 

468,384

 

2,493,205

 

J. Frank Keller

 

45,069,671

 

371,349

 

2,493,205

 

Michael S. Reddin

 

45,325,097

 

115,923

 

2,493,205

 

 

Proposal 2

 

Berry stockholders ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2011 fiscal year as set forth below:

 

Votes For

 

Votes Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker Non-Votes

 

49,188,565

 

219,331

 

9,368

 

0

 

 

Proposal 3

 

The advisory vote by Berry stockholders on executive compensation was as set forth below:

 

Votes For

 

Votes Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker Non-Votes

 

43,033,630

 

2,284,536

 

37,465

 

2,493,205

 

 

2



 

Proposal 4

 

The advisory vote by Berry stockholders on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation was as set forth below:

 

1 Year

 

2 Years

 

3 Years

 

Abstentions

 

Broker Non-Votes

 

37,523,328

 

1,494,990

 

6,286,672

 

50,641

 

2,493,205

 

 

In accordance with the Board of Director’s recommendation as set forth in the 2011 proxy statement, and based on the voting results for this proposal, the Company determined that an advisory vote to approve the compensation of the named executive officers of the Company will be conducted on an annual basis, until the next advisory vote on this matter is held.

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Davis O O’Connor

 

 

 

Davis O O’Connor

 

 

 

Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 16, 2011

 

 

 

 

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