0001193125-13-476170.txt : 20131217 0001193125-13-476170.hdr.sgml : 20131217 20131217165636 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-13-476170 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20131217 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20131217 GROUP MEMBERS: MRMP-MANAGERS LLC SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BARNWELL INDUSTRIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000010048 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311] IRS NUMBER: 720496921 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-20279 FILM NUMBER: 131282751 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1100 ALAKEA ST. STREET 2: SUITE 2900 CITY: HONOLULU STATE: HI ZIP: 96813 BUSINESS PHONE: 808-531-8400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1100 ALAKEA ST. STREET 2: SUITE 2900 CITY: HONOLULU STATE: HI ZIP: 96813 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: BMA CORP/TN DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19770324 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: BARNWELL OFFSHORE INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19671101 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SHERWOOD NED L CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000902749 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000] STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 54 MORRIS LN CITY: SCARSDALE STATE: NY ZIP: 10583 SC 13D/A 1 d645592dsc13da.htm AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SCHEDULE 13D Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Amendment No. 1)*

 

 

Barnwell Industries, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.50 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

068221100

(CUSIP Number)

Ned L. Sherwood

4731 North Highway A1A, Suite 213

Vero Beach, FL 32963

(772) 226-7923

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

December 17, 2013

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

 

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box  ¨

 

 

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

 

 

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

(Continued on following pages)

 

 

 


CUSIP No. 068221100    SCHEDULE 13D   Page 2 of 6 Pages

 

  1   

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

 

Ned L. Sherwood

  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a)  ¨            

(b)  ¨            

  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

  4  

SOURCE OF FUNDS

 

    OO

  5  

CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

¨            

  6  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

    United States of America

NUMBER OF  

SHARES  

BENEFICIALLY  

OWNED BY  

EACH  

REPORTING  

PERSON   WITH  

 

     7    

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

    0

     8   

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

    899,622.138*

     9   

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

    0

   10   

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

    899,622.138*

11  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

    899,622.138*

12  

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

¨            

13  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

 

    10.9%**

14  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

    IN

 

* Includes (i) 661,584.138 common shares held by MRMP-Managers LLC, of which Ned L. Sherwood is the Chief Investment Officer and (ii) 238,038 common shares held by the Ned L. Sherwood Revocable Trust, of which Ned. L. Sherwood is the beneficiary and trustee. Ned. L. Sherwood disclaims beneficial ownership of such common shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
** All percentages reported herein are calculated based upon an aggregate of 8,277,160 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 1, 2013, as reported on the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013.


CUSIP No. 068221100    SCHEDULE 13D   Page 3 of 6 Pages

 

  1   

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

 

MRMP-Managers LLC

  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a)  ¨            

(b)  ¨            

  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

  4  

SOURCE OF FUNDS

 

    OO

  5  

CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

¨            

  6  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

    Delaware

NUMBER OF  

SHARES  

BENEFICIALLY  

OWNED BY  

EACH  

REPORTING  

PERSON   WITH  

 

     7    

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

    0

     8   

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

    661,584.138

     9   

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

    0

   10   

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

    661,584.138

11  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

    661,584.138

12  

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

¨            

13  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

 

    8.0%**

14  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

    OO

 

** All percentages reported herein are calculated based upon an aggregate of 8,277,160 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 1, 2013, as reported on the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013.


This Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D (this “Amendment No. 1”) relates to the common stock, par value $0.50 per share (the “Shares”), of Barnwell Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”) and amends the Schedule 13D filed on June 11, 2013 (the “Original Schedule 13D” and, together with this Amendment No. 1, the “Schedule 13D”). Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Amendment No. 1 have the meanings set forth in the Original Schedule 13D. This Amendment No. 1 is being filed by Ned L. Sherwood (“Sherwood”) and MRMP-Managers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MRMP” and together with Sherwood, the “Reporting Persons”).

This Amendment No. 1 is being filed to amend Item 4 and Item 7 of the Schedule 13D as follows:

 

Item 4 Purpose of Transaction

Item 4 of the Schedule 13D is amended by adding thereto the following:

On December 17, 2013, Sherwood delivered a letter to the Issuer, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4 and is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. MRMP will also deliver a demand letter to the Issuer pursuant to Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, requesting the opportunity to inspect and make or receive copies of certain records of the Issuer (the “Demand Letter”). The form of the Demand Letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 5 and is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

 

Item 7 Material to be Filed as Exhibits

Item 7 of the Schedule 13D is amended by adding thereto the following:

 

Exhibit 4:    Letter to the Issuer, dated December 17, 2013
Exhibit 5:    Form of Demand Letter to the Issuer


SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

December 17, 2013     Ned L. Sherwood
    By:  

/s/ Ned L. Sherwood

    Name:   Ned L. Sherwood
December 17, 2013     MRMP-Managers LLC
    By:  

/s/ Ned L. Sherwood

    Name:   Ned L. Sherwood
    Title:   Chief Investment Officer
EX-99.4 2 d645592dex994.htm EX-99.4 EX-99.4

Exhibit 4

Ned L. Sherwood

4731 North Highway A1A, Suite 213

Vero Beach, FL 32963

Tel: (772) 226-7923

Fax: (772) 231-0207

December 17, 2013

The Board of Directors

Barnwell Industries

1100 Alakea Street, Suite 2900

Honolulu, HI 96813

To the Board:

As you know from my filings at the Securities and Exchange Commission, I am a long term shareholder of Barnwell Industries common stock. I own approximately 10.5% of the Company, and I am deeply concerned by the operations and governance of the Company.

In my last letter, dated June 11, 2013, I pointed out several disturbing practices at the Company and offered some suggestions on how to take immediate actions to stop the ongoing value destruction at the Company. For example, I believe that salaries should be reduced immediately in the C-suite and that any future pay should be linked to operating metrics and stock price performance. Furthermore, the Board should institute a mandatory retirement age in order to bring in new expertise and create some urgency for enhancing value to all shareholders. As I pointed out, the Board has overseen zero appreciation in nearly 25 years, and publicly available information strongly suggests that the Kinzlers are using this Company as their personal piggy bank.

My letter today is to voice my continued concern about the Company’s horrendous operational performance, its lack of even a semblance of good governance practices, and its disastrous stock performance.

Let’s start with the facts:

 

    Over the past five years, Barnwell’s stock price has declined approximately 86% while the S&P 500 has risen 66% in the comparable time period.

 

    Barnwell’s annual natural gas production has declined steeply each year since 2009.

 

    Barnwell’s foray into luxury residential development has resulted in losses, continued write-offs and increased debt. Despite these noticeably poor results, management has decided, within the last weeks, to make a further investment in this area!!


    Barnwell’s contract drilling business has seen its revenues drop approximately 66% over the past five years and has turned into a perennial money loser.

Now let’s look at some of what I believe are the reasons:

 

    The Barnwell Board has rewarded executives in the C-suite with excessive salaries and continued raises over the past ten years irrespective of performance.

 

    The Board has allowed the pension and other retirement obligations to employees to balloon to over $9 million when the majority of the staff located in Canada is not even included in the plan! One could certainly surmise that the overwhelming majority of this obligation is owed to the CEO, his son the President, and the CFO.

 

    The Barnwell Board has numerous conflicts of interest. Some of the so called “independent” members serve as personal lawyers for large shareholders. Others so called “independents” also act as accountants for the Company. The Company even does accounting work for two large shareholders at apparently no charge! None of the conflicts are adequately disclosed.

Now let’s look at the Company’s governance:

 

    The Board totals ten people when the entire company has only 41 full-time employees.

 

    The Non-Employee directors have been paying themselves nearly $250,000 combined, per year.

 

    Over the years, the Board has allowed dubious transactions with directors and their families.

 

    The so-called “independent” members of the Board own only approximately 75,000 shares of stock (0.9% of the shares outstanding) despite a combined 78 years of service on the Board!

 

    The Board has barely any experience in exploration and production for oil and gas.

 

    The Board has three insiders and six lawyers and only one geologist.

Finally, let us look at the Kinzlers’ family history of nepotism and what certainly appears to be their ongoing looting of the Company:

 

    Morton Kinzler brought his son Alex into the Company directly from law school in 1984. Without any other apparent business experience except for his years at the Company, Alex was promoted to President in 2002. During his tenure at the Company as an apprentice, there has been zero value creation. In his tenure as President, the stock is down from $20.10 on 12/31/2002 to $3.02 on 12/16/2013—a decline of approximately 85%.

 

    In fact, Alex is more than the President. In a Pacific Business News article dated April 9, 2006, Alex was interviewed and the article states that his father Morton was no longer active in the day to day business. Since that article, the stock is down from $21.75 to $3.02—a decline of over 85%.


    Morton Kinzler is still called the CEO and receives from the Company a salary and perks of nearly $1 million per year although he lives more than 4000 miles from Company facilities.

 

    Morton Kinzler has also employed his daughter at the Company in the past and also paid her a severance when she left.

 

    The Company owns an apartment in New York City that I estimate is worth nearly $4 million. Despite being told by Alex that it was a “company office,” I have discovered it is a residential building where offices are not allowed. Furthermore, I discovered a lawsuit where Morton Kinzler declared it was his sole residence. It appears that Morton has lived there rent-free on the company dime since at least 1977!

It has been several months since my initial Schedule 13D filing and letter. Just last week Barnwell reported horrible results again, and it appears there has been no positive changes to the operations. It seems as if the looting, nepotism, and ineffective corporate governance practices at the Company continue. The Board has a fiduciary duty to shareholders and, with six lawyers among the board members, there can no doubt the Board is well aware of the importance of their fiduciary duties. Nonetheless, the Board has been utterly complacent, if not completely complicit, in the Kinzler family’s complete mismanagement of the Company and destruction of shareholder value. I will be making a books and record request to explore more fully, among other things, the Board’s role in these troubling matters.

The horrible results of the Company speak for themselves. I believe the Board should now speak to shareholders and explain the following:

 

    Why does the Board compensate Morton Kinzler as CEO when he is apparently “no longer in charge of day to day operations”?

 

    Why did Alex Kinzler receive nearly continuous raises when he apparently oversaw a disastrous entry into real estate development, amongst other missteps?

 

    Why does Russ Gifford get paid so much when he has been president of the water drilling business that has seen a 66% decline in revenues?

 

    What are comparable salaries of CEOs, Presidents, and CFOs at companies with $25mm market caps which are losing money from operations?

 

    Why does the Board allow pension and other retirement obligations to skyrocket when results are plummeting?

 

    Why does the Company have a $4 million asset in New York City when the closest operations are thousands of miles away in Western Canada and Hawaii?


Many shareholders have communicated with me since my last letter, yet I see no action being taken. Here are some suggestions for the Board:

 

    Immediate reduction in the salaries of the President and CFO to $350k COMBINED.

 

    Freezing the pension plan of the CEO, CFO, and President.

 

    Implement a retirement age of 70.

 

    Reconstitute the Board with experts in E&P, luxury residential real estate, and experience in asset allocation.

 

    Sell the New York City apartment.

I plan to follow up this letter with a books and record request. Additionally, I urge all shareholders to write to the Board and request their individual resignations at a minimum. It is well past due for major changes at Barnwell.

Sincerely,

/s/ Ned L. Sherwood

Ned L. Sherwood

EX-99.5 3 d645592dex995.htm EX-99.5 EX-99.5

Exhibit 5

MRMP-Managers LLC

December     , 2013

 

Mr. Alexander C. Kinzler

   The Board of Directors of Barnwell Industries, Inc.

Mr. Russell Gifford

   c/o The Corporation Trust Company

Barnwell Industries

   1209 Orange Street

1100 Alakea St., Suite 2900

   Wilmington, DE 19801

Honolulu, HI 96813

  

Re: Demand for Inspection of Certain Records Pursuant to 8 Del. C. § 220

Dear Alexander and Russell:

MRMP-Managers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MRMP”), is a stockholder of Barnwell Industries, Inc. (“Barnwell” and together with all of its subsidiaries, the “Company”). A true and correct copy of the Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by MRMP and Ned L. Sherwood on June 11, 2013 and Amendment No. 1 thereto filed on December 17, 2013, confirming MRMP’s beneficial ownership of 661,584.138 shares of common stock, $0.50 par value per share (the “Shares”), of Barnwell, is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Pursuant to Section 220(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), MRMP is entitled to, and hereby demands the right, during the usual hours of business, to inspect the following records and documents of the Company and to make copies or extracts therefrom:

 

  1. All documents (including emails and documents in electronic form) considered by, reviewed by, presented to, provided to, or generated by Barnwell’s board of directors (the “Board”), any committee or subcommittee thereof, or any individual director of the Board since January 1, 2008.

 

  2. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records pertaining to the Company-owned apartment in New York City (which MRMP believes is located at 425 East 58th Street, New York City), including, but not limited to documents related to:

 

  a. the reasons for purchasing and maintaining such apartment;

 

  b. the persons who have made use of the apartment since January 1, 2008, and any all payments or reimbursements that have been paid by such persons to the Company for the use of the apartment;

 

  c. the purposes for which such persons have used the apartment during such period;

 

  d. business meetings that have been held at the apartment since January 1, 2008;


  e. any Thanksgiving parties and other private functions that have taken place at the apartment and the business purpose therefor; and

 

  f. consideration, if any, given to the continued benefit to Barnwell and its shareholders that might accrue from owning the apartment, including, without limitation, any valuation report or study related to the apartment.

 

  3. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records pertaining to any shareholder that, as of the date hereof, beneficially owns more than 5% of Barnwell’s outstanding Shares (each a “Major Shareholder”), including but not limited to:

 

  a. each Major Shareholder’s investment in the Company;

 

  b. each Major Shareholder’s working interest in certain oil and gas properties managed or owned by the Company and its affiliates, or in which the Company and its affiliates own an interest;

 

  c. the timing of any acquisition of the Major Shareholders’ working interest in certain oil and gas properties managed or owned by the Company and its affiliates; and

 

  d. all correspondence between the Company, including any director, officer or employee of, or advisor to, the Company, on the one hand, and a Major Shareholder, or any agent, family member, affiliate, associate or representative of, or advisor to such Major Shareholder, on the other hand.

 

  4. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records, including expenditures, pertaining to services provided by the Company, its agents, employees, representatives, or any individual that is a Board member (whether or not in his or her capacity as such) or entities affiliated with Board members, in each case for the benefit of a Major Shareholder, or their respective family members, affiliates or associates, including, without limitation, any legal services performed by Robert Inglima or any affiliate thereof for any Major Shareholder or any family member or affiliate thereof.

 

  5. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records, including expenditures, pertaining to services provided since January 1, 2003 by Board members or entities affiliated with members of the Board to the Company or its affiliates, including, without limitation, any services performed by Kranz & Co. to the Company and its affiliates or Major Shareholders.

 

  6. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records, including third-party analyses prepared by financial advisors or strategic consultants and any self-evaluations relating to the Company’s capital expenditures of $7.5 million in oil and natural gas properties during fiscal 2013.

 

  7. Any written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records in the Company’s possession relating to the personal or business relationships between Mr. Morton Kinzler and any other member of the Board since January 1, 2008.

 

  8. Any written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records in the Company’s possession relating to the employment by the Company or any of its affiliates of any family member of Morton Kinzler (other than Alex Kinzler), including, without limitation, the employment of Mr. Kinzler’s daughter, Cynthia Grillot, as marketing manager in Canada.

 

2


  9. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records concerning the policies and procedures for making decisions on selecting potential and new members of the Board.

 

  10. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records concerning the Board’s or Company’s consideration of the letter Ned Sherwood previously sent to the Board on June 11, 2013.

 

  11. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records concerning the evaluation (including, without limitation, self-evaluations) of Board members since 2008.

 

  12. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records concerning the activities of Morton Kinzler as Chief Executive Officer of the Company since January 1, 2008.

 

  13. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records provided to or generated by the Board or any committee thereof concerning the compensation (including salary, bonus, stock, pension and other benefits) paid to Mr. Morton Kinzler, Mr. Alex Kinzler and Mr. Russell Gifford from 2010-2013, including but not limited to all metrics used to calculate and evaluate compensation as well as any documents reflecting any comparison or consideration of the compensation paid to senior executives at other companies.

 

  14. All written or electronic documents (including emails) or other records related to the Company’s direct or indirect investment in Cambridge Hawaii Limited Partnership (“CHLP”) and Kaupulehu Developments (“KD”), including, without limitation, any communications and other records related to the relationship between KD and CHLP, on the one hand, and Terry Johnson and his son David Johnson, on the other hand.

 

  15. A complete record or list of the holders of the Shares, certified by Barnwell, or its transfer agent and registrar, showing the name, address and number of Shares registered in the name of each such holder, as of the date of this letter (the “Determination Date”).

 

  16. A CD-ROM or other electronic file listing the holders of Shares as of the Determination Date, showing the name, address and number of Shares registered in the name of each such holder; such computer processing data and instructions as are necessary to make use of such CD-ROM or other electronic file; and a hard copy printout of such CD-ROM or other electronic file for verification purposes.

 

  17. A stop list or stop lists relating to the Shares and any additions or deletions thereto, and any daily transfer sheets after the Determination Date.

 

  18. A list of all holders of the Shares as of the Determination Date arranged in descending order by number of Shares and indicating the names and addresses of all of Barnwell’s shareholders.

 

  19.

All information in the possession of the Company, its transfer agent, its proxy solicitor or any of their respective agents, or which can reasonably be obtained from nominees of any central certificate depository systems or their nominees, brokers, dealers, banks, respondent banks, clearing agencies, voting trusts and their nominees or other

 

3


  nominees, concerning the number and identity of, and Shares held by, the beneficial owners of the Shares as of the Determination Date, including an alphabetical breakdown of any holdings in the respective names of Cede and other similar depositories or nominees, as well as any material request list provided by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) and any omnibus proxies issued by such entities.

 

  20. Any information in or which comes into the possession of the Company, its proxy solicitor or any of their respective agents or which can reasonably be obtained from brokers, dealers, banks, respondent banks, clearing agencies or voting trustees relating to the names of the non-objecting beneficial owners of the Shares in the format of a CD-ROM or other electronic file of such owners showing the name, address and number of Shares registered in the name of each such owner; such computer processing data and instructions as are necessary to make use of such CD-ROM or other electronic file; and a hard copy printout of such CD-ROM or other electronic file for verification purposes (such information with respect to brokers and dealers is readily available to the Company under Rule 14b-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), from Broadridge).

 

  21. All “respondent bank” lists and omnibus proxies for such lists, pursuant to Rule 14b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

  22. A CD-ROM or other electronic file listing all shareholders of Barnwell who are participants in any Company employee stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option, retirement, restricted stock, incentive, profit sharing, dividend reinvestment or any similar plan or arrangement in which voting or tendering of the Shares under the plan is controlled, directly or indirectly, individually or collectively, by such plan’s or arrangement’s participants, showing (i) the name and address of each such participant, (ii) the number of Shares attributable to each such participant in any such plan or arrangement, and (iii) the method by which MRMP or its agents may communicate with each such participant, as well as the name, firm, telephone number and email address of the trustee or administrator of any such plan or arrangement, and a detailed explanation of the treatment of (a) Shares for which the trustee or administrator receives instructions from participants, (b) Shares for which the trustee or administrator does not receive instructions from participants and (c) Shares that are outstanding in the plan or arrangement but are unallocated to any participant; such computer processing data and instructions as are necessary to make use of such CD-ROM or other electronic file; and a hard copy printout of such CD-ROM or other electronic file for verification purposes.

The purposes of this demand are as follows:

 

  1. MRMP has been concerned about the strategy and performance of the Company and the ability of its management to guide the Company toward improved performance. Thus, one purpose of this demand is to investigate potential wrongdoing, mismanagement and/or additional breaches of fiduciary duties by members of the Board or others in connection with the events, circumstances, and transactions described above.

 

4


  2. MRMP is also concerned about the Company’s expense control, including the Company’s payment of outsized compensation packages for its senior executives. Thus, another purpose of the demand is to investigate potential wrongdoing, mismanagement, self-dealing and/or additional breaches of fiduciary duties by members of the Board or others in connection with the events, circumstances, and transactions described above, including but not limited to potential claims for breach of the duty of loyalty, corporate waste, or other claims associated with reckless and wasteful spending by the Company.

 

  3. In addition, MRMP is concerned about potential related party transactions between the Company and its affiliates, on the one hand, and Major Shareholders, or their respective family members, on the other hand.

 

  4. Another purpose of the demand is to enable the investigation of the suitability of the current directors to continue serving on the Board.

 

  5. The purpose of requested items 15-22 is to communicate with other Barnwell shareholders in connection with MRMP’s concerns regarding the direction of the Company’s management.

MRMP hereby designates and authorizes Adam Offenhartz and Eduardo Gallardo of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and their respective partners, associates and any other person to be designated, acting together, singly or in combination, to conduct as its agents, the inspection and copying herein requested and to otherwise act on MRMP’s behalf, and MRMP has executed a Power of Attorney so providing, which is attached as Exhibit B hereto. MRMP is prepared to maintain appropriate confidentiality of the materials provided in response to this letter, and thus will enter into a reasonable confidentiality agreement in order to facilitate the inspection of the Company’s books and records and other materials. Additionally, MRMP will bear the reasonable costs incurred by the Company and its agents and representatives in connection with producing and furnishing the requested information.

Within five business days after the date of this letter, please have your counsel advise Mr. Offenhartz, to make arrangements for the inspection and copying of the aforementioned books, records and other documents. Mr. Offenhartz can be reached at 212-351-3808 (e-mail: aoffenhartz@gibsondunn.com). Alternatively, if the Company desires, it can provide the records herein demanded without the need for inspection and copying by MRMP’s agents by promptly sending complete and unredacted copies of them to Mr. Offenhartz.

 

5


This demand is made under oath pursuant to Section 220 of the DGCL. The undersigned affirms the foregoing statements to be true to the fullest extent of its knowledge and belief under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America.

 

Sincerely,
MRMP-Managers LLC
By          
  Name:   Ned L. Sherwood
  Title:   Chief Investment Officer

 

Sworn to before me this day of December 2013

   
  NOTARY PUBLIC


EXHIBIT A

(See attached)


EXHIBIT B

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned hereby constitutes, designates and appoints, Eduardo Gallardo, Adam Offenhartz and their respective partners, associates, employees and any other persons to be designated by any of them, acting together, singly or in combination, as such person’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to conduct the inspection and copying of the records demanded in the Demand for Inspection of Certain Records Pursuant to 8 Del. C. § 220, dated December         , 2013.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument effective as of the          day of December, 2013.

 

MRMP-Managers LLC
By:        
  Name:   Ned L. Sherwood
  Title:   Chief Investment Officer