As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 21, 2011

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

PYRAMID OIL COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

California   94-0787340

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

2008 - 21 st Street

P.O. Box 832

Bakersfield, California 93302

(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

 

 

2006 Equity Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)

 

 

John H. Alexander

Chief Executive Officer

Pyramid Oil Company

2008 – 21 st Street

P.O. Box 832

Bakersfield, California 93302

(Name and address of agent for service)

(661) 325-1000

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨    Smaller reporting company   x

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 
Title of securities
to be registered
 

Amount

to be
registered (1)

  Proposed
maximum
offering price
per share
 

Proposed
maximum
aggregate

offering price

 

Amount of

registration fee

Common Stock, no par value

  25,000 shares (2)   $4.08 (2)   $102,000.00 (2)   $11.84

Common Stock, no par value

  268,875 shares (3)   $5.06 (3)   $1,360,507.50 (3)   $157.95

Total

  293,875 shares   —     $1,462,507.50   $169.79
 
 

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) covers, in addition to the shares of common stock specified above, an indeterminate number of additional shares of common stock that may become issuable under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) as a result of the anti-dilution adjustment provisions of the Plan regarding stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions.

 

(2) Represents shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding awards under the Plan and with respect to which the offering price is known. The proposed maximum offering price per share and maximum aggregate offering price were estimated, solely for purposes of calculating the amount of the registration fee, in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act based upon the weighted-average exercise price of such awards.

 

(3) Represents shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the Plan and with respect to which the offering price is not currently known. The proposed maximum offering price per share and maximum aggregate offering price were estimated, solely for purposes of calculating the amount of the registration fee, in accordance with Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act based upon a price of $5.06, which is the average of the high and low prices of the common stock reported on the NYSE Amex Equities on July 18, 2011. Prior to the date of this Registration Statement, Pyramid Oil Company (the “Registrant”) issued 6,125 shares under the Plan in a transaction that was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) under the Securities Act; the reoffer and resale of such shares are not being registered pursuant to this Registration Statement.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

Item 1. Plan Information.*

 

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*

 

* The information specified in Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the Note to Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to participants in the Plan as required by Rule 428(b)(1).


PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

 

  (a) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2011;

 

  (b) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 16, 2011;

 

  (c) The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2011, May 17, 2011 and June 7, 2011, respectively; and

 

  (d) The description of the Registrant’s common stock contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on August 15, 2006, and any amendment or report subsequently filed for the purpose of updating such description.

In addition, all documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment indicating that all securities offered pursuant to this Registration Statement have been sold or deregistering all such securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be part of this Registration Statement from the date of the filing of such documents.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no portion of any document that is “furnished” but not “filed” in accordance with Commission rules under Exchange Act shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained in this Registration Statement or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in this Registration Statement or in any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Sections 204(a)(11) and 317 of the California General Corporation Law authorize the Registrant to indemnify, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, its directors, officers, employees and other agents against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts that they may incur in connection with pending, threatened or completed legal actions or proceedings that are based upon their

 

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service as the Registrant’s directors, officers, employees or other agents or that are based upon their service as directors, officers, employees or other agents of certain other specified entities. The California General Corporation Law also provides that the Registrant is entitled to purchase indemnification insurance on behalf of any such director, officer, employee or agent.

Article Eighth of the Registrant’s articles of incorporation permits the Registrant to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and other agents in excess of the indemnification otherwise permitted by Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law, subject only to the applicable limits set forth in Section 204 of the California General Corporation Law.

Article Eighth of the Registrant’s articles of incorporation eliminates the personal liability of the Registrant’s directors for monetary damages for breach of their duties as directors to the fullest extent permitted under California law. Section 204(a)(10) of the California General Corporation Law provides that this provision does not eliminate the liability of a director for specified acts such as (1) acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing and culpable violation of law, (2) acts or omissions that a director believes to be contrary to the best interests of the corporation or its shareholders or that involve the absence of good faith on the part of the director, (3) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit, (4) acts or omissions that show a reckless disregard for the director’s duty to the corporation or its shareholders in circumstances in which the director was aware, or should have been aware, in the ordinary course of performing his or her duties, of a risk of serious injury to the corporation or its shareholders, (5) acts or omissions that constitute an unexcused pattern of inattention that amounts to an abdication of the director’s duty to the corporation or its shareholders, or (6) unlawful dividends, loans or stock repurchases.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  4.1    Restated Articles of Incorporation of Pyramid Oil Company (previously filed by the Registrant on August 13, 2010 as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and incorporated herein by reference).
  4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Pyramid Oil Company (previously filed by the Registrant on August 13, 2010 as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and incorporated herein by reference).
  4.3    2006 Equity Incentive Plan of Pyramid Oil Company.
  5.1    Opinion of TroyGould PC.
23.1    Consent of SingerLewak LLP.
23.2    Consent of TroyGould PC (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).

 

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Item 9. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered hereunder which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Bakersfield, California, on July 21, 2011.

 

PYRAMID OIL COMPANY
By:   /s/    J OHN H. A LEXANDER         
  John H. Alexander
  President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael D. Herman and John H. Alexander, and each of them, acting individually and without the other, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them individually, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    J OHN H. A LEXANDER        

John H. Alexander

  

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  July 21, 2011

/s/    L EE G. C HRISTIANSON        

Lee G. Christianson

  

Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  July 21, 2011

/s/    M ICHAEL D. H ERMAN        

Michael D. Herman

  

Chairman of the Board of Directors

  July 21, 2011

/s/    G ARY L. R ONNING        

Gary L. Ronning

  

Director

  July 21, 2011

/s/    J OHN E. T URCO        

John E. Turco

  

Director

  July 21, 2011

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

4.1    Restated Articles of Incorporation of Pyramid Oil Company (previously filed by the Registrant on August 13, 2010 as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Pyramid Oil Company (previously filed by the Registrant on August 13, 2010 as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.3    2006 Equity Incentive Plan of Pyramid Oil Company.
5.1    Opinion of TroyGould PC.
23.1    Consent of SingerLewak LLP.
23.2    Consent of TroyGould PC (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).

 

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Exhibit 4.3

PYRAMID OIL COMPANY

2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN

The purposes of the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) of Pyramid Oil Company, a California corporation (the “ Company ”), are to:

1.1 Encourage selected employees, directors, consultants and advisers to improve operations and increase the profitability of the Company;

1.2 Encourage selected employees, directors, consultants and advisers to accept or continue employment or association with the Company or its Affiliates; and

1.3 Increase the interest of selected employees, directors, consultants and advisers in the Company’s welfare through participation in the growth in value of the common stock of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”). All references herein to stock or shares, unless otherwise specified, shall mean the Common Stock.

 

2. TYPES OF AWARDS; ELIGIBLE PERSONS

2.1 The Administrator (as defined below) may, from time to time, take the following action, separately or in combination, under the Plan: (i) grant “incentive stock options” (“ ISOs ”) intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder (the “ Code ”); (ii) grant “non-qualified options” (“ NQOs ,” and together with ISOs, “ Options ”); (iii) sell shares of Common Stock (“ Restricted Stock ”) and (iv) grant stock appreciation rights (any such right would permit the holder to receive the excess of the fair market value of Common Stock on the exercise date over its fair market value (or a greater base value) on the grant date (“ SARs ”)), either in tandem with Options or as separate and independent grants. Any such awards may be made to employees, including employees who are officers or directors, and to individuals described in Section 1 of the Plan who the Administrator believes have made or will make a contribution to the Company or any Affiliate (as defined below); provided , however , that only a person who is an employee of the Company or any Affiliate at the date of the grant of an Option is eligible to receive ISOs under the Plan. For purposes of the Plan: (i) the term “ Affiliate ” means a parent or subsidiary corporation as defined in the applicable provisions (currently Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively) of the Code; (ii) the term “ employee ” includes an officer or director who is an employee of the Company; (iii) the term “ consultant ” includes persons employed by, or otherwise affiliated with, a consultant; and (iv) the term “ adviser ” includes persons employed by, or otherwise affiliated with, an adviser.

2.2 Except as otherwise expressly set forth in the Plan, no right or benefit under the Plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, hypothecation, or charge, and any such attempted action shall be void. No right or benefit under the Plan shall in any manner be liable for or subject to debts, contracts, liabilities, or torts of any optionee or any other person except as otherwise may be expressly required by applicable law.

 


3. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN; MAXIMUM NUMBER OF GRANTS

3.1 Subject to the provisions of Section 3.2, the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued as Restricted Stock or on the exercise of Options or SARs under the Plan shall not exceed 300,000 shares. The shares subject to an Option or SAR granted under the Plan that expire, terminate or are cancelled unexercised shall become available again for grants under the Plan. If shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan are forfeited to the Company or repurchased by the Company, the number of shares forfeited or repurchased shall again be available under the Plan. Where the exercise price of an Option is paid by means of the optionee’s surrender of previously owned shares of Common Stock or the Company’s withholding of shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option as may be permitted in the Plan, only the net number of shares issued and which remain outstanding in connection with such exercise shall be deemed “issued” and no longer available for issuance under the Plan. No eligible person shall be granted Options or other awards under the Plan during any twelve-month period covering more than 100,000 shares.

3.2 If the Common Stock is changed by reason of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination or reclassification, then the number and class of shares of stock subject to the Plan that may be issued under the Plan shall be proportionately adjusted (provided that any fractional share resulting from such adjustment shall be disregarded).

 

4. ADMINISTRATION

4.1 The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) or by a committee (the “ Committee ”) to which the Board has delegated administration of the Plan (or of part of thereof) (in either case, the “ Administrator ”). The Board shall appoint and remove members of the Committee in its discretion in accordance with applicable laws. At the Board’s discretion, the Committee may be comprised solely of “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Administrator may delegate non-discretionary administrative duties to such employees of the Company as the Administrator deems proper and the Board, in its absolute discretion, may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Administrator under the Plan.

4.2 Subject to the other provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion: (i) to grant Options and SARs and grant or sell Restricted Stock; (ii) to determine the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to Options or other awards; (iii) to determine the exercise price of Options granted, which shall be no less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, the economic terms of SARs granted, which shall provide for a benefit of the appreciation on Common Stock over not less than the value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, or the offering price of Restricted Stock; (iv) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Options or SARs shall be granted or Restricted Stock granted or sold, and the number of shares subject to each Option or SAR or the number of shares of Restricted Stock granted or sold; (v) to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan, of any applicable agreement and all Options and SARs granted under the Plan, and of any Restricted Stock award under the Plan; (vi) to

 

2


prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (vii) to determine the terms and provisions of each Option and SAR granted and award of Restricted Stock (which need not be identical), including but not limited to, the time or times at which Options and SARs shall be exercisable or the time at which the restrictions on Restricted Stock shall lapse; (viii) with the consent of the Grantee, to rescind any award or exercise of an Option or SAR; (ix) to modify or amend the terms of any Option, SAR or Restricted Stock (with the consent of the Grantee or holder of the Restricted Stock if the modification or amendment is adverse to the Grantee or holder); (x) to reduce the purchase price of Restricted Stock or exercise price of any Option or base price of any SAR; (xi) to accelerate or defer (with the consent of the grantee) the exercise date of any Option or SAR or the date on which the restrictions on Restricted Stock lapse; (xii) to issue shares of Restricted Stock to an optionee in connection with the accelerated exercise of an Option by such optionee; (xiii) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument evidencing the grant of an Option, SAR or award of Restricted Stock; (xiv) to determine the duration and purposes of leaves of absence which may be granted to participants without constituting a termination of their employment for the purposes of the Plan; and (xv) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, any applicable agreement, Option, SAR or award of Restricted Stock.

4.3 All questions of interpretation, implementation, and application of the Plan or any agreement or Option, SAR or award of Restricted Stock shall be determined by the Administrator, which determination shall be final and binding on all persons.

 

5. GRANTING OF OPTIONS AND SARS; AGREEMENTS

5.1 No Options or SARs shall be granted under the Plan after 10 years from the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board.

5.2 Each Option and SAR shall be evidenced by a written agreement, in form satisfactory to the Administrator, executed by the Company and the person to whom such grant is made (“ Grantee ”, which term shall include the permitted successors and assigns of the Grantee with respect to the Option or SAR). In the event of a conflict between the terms or conditions of an agreement and the terms and conditions of the Plan, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall govern.

5.3 Each Option agreement shall specify whether the Option it evidences is an NQO or an ISO, provided , however , all Options granted under the Plan to non-employee directors, consultants and advisers of the Company are intended to be NQOs.

5.4 Subject to Section 6.3.3 with respect to ISOs, the Administrator may approve the grant of Options or SARs under the Plan to persons who are expected to become employees, directors, consultants or advisers of the Company, but are not employees, directors, consultants or advisers at the date of approval.

5.5 For purposes of the Plan, the term “ employment ” shall be deemed to include service as an employee, director, consultant or adviser.

 

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6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS AND SARS

Each Option and SAR granted under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 6.1. NQOs and SARs shall also be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 6.2, but not those set forth in Section 6.3. ISOs shall also be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 6.3, but not those set forth in Section 6.2. SARs shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 6.4.

6.1 Terms and Conditions to Which All Options and SARs Are Subject . All Options and SARs granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

6.1.1 Changes in Capital Structure . Subject to Section 6.1.2, if the Common Stock is changed by reason of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination or reclassification, then the number and class of shares of stock subject to each Option and SAR outstanding under the Plan, and the exercise price of each outstanding Option and the base value of SAR, shall be automatically and proportionately adjusted; provided , that the Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares as a result of any such adjustments. Such adjustment, however, in any outstanding Option or SAR shall be made without change in the total price applicable to the unexercised portion of the Option or SAR but with a corresponding adjustment in the price for each share covered by the unexercised portion of the Option or SAR. Any determination by the Administrator in connection with these adjustments shall be final, binding, and conclusive. If an adjustment under this Section 6.1.1 would result in a fractional share interest under an option or any installment, the Administrator’s decision as to inclusion or exclusion of that fractional share interest shall be final, but no fractional shares of stock shall be issued under the Plan on account of any such adjustment.

6.1.2 Corporate Transactions . Except as otherwise provided in the applicable agreement, in the event of a Corporate Transaction (as defined below), all Options and SARs shall terminate upon consummation of the Corporate Transaction unless the Administrator determines that they shall survive. If the Administrator determines that outstanding Options and SARs shall survive, and if the Company shall not be the surviving entity in the Corporate Transaction, the Administrator shall provide that the outstanding Options and SARs shall be assumed or an equivalent Option or SAR substituted by an applicable successor entity or any Affiliate of the successor entity. If outstanding Options and SARs are to terminate upon consummation of the Corporate Transaction, any Options or SARS outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of the Corporate Transaction shall be deemed fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to the consummation of the Corporate Transaction (provided that the Option or SAR has not expired by its terms and that the Grantee takes all steps necessary to exercise the Option or SAR prior to the Corporate Transaction as required by the agreement evidencing the Option or SAR). The Administrator shall notify each Grantee of an outstanding Option or SAR of a proposed Corporate Transaction at least 30 days prior thereto or as soon as may be practicable, and the exercise of any Option or SAR by a Grantee thereafter shall be contingent upon consummation of the Corporate Transaction unless the Grantee expressly elects otherwise with respect to vested shares. A “ Corporate Transaction ” means (i) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or entity (other than a merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary); or (iii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a single transaction or a series of related transactions.

 

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6.1.3 Time of Option or SAR Exercise . Subject to Section 6.3.4, an Option or SAR granted under the Plan shall be exercisable (a) immediately as of the effective date of the of the applicable agreement or (b) in accordance with a schedule or performance criteria as may be set by the Administrator and specified in the applicable agreement. However, in no case may an Option or SAR be exercisable until the Company and the Grantee execute a written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Company.

6.1.4 Grant Date . The date of grant of an Option or SAR under the Plan shall be the date approved or specified by the Administrator and reflected as the effective date of the applicable agreement.

6.1.5 Non-Transferability of Rights . Except with the express written approval of the Administrator, which approval the Administrator is authorized to give only with respect to NQOs and SARs, no Option or SAR granted under the Plan shall be assignable or otherwise transferable by the grantee except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the life of the grantee, an Option or SAR shall be exercisable only by the grantee or permitted transferee.

6.1.6 Payment . Except as provided below, payment in full, in cash, shall be made for all Common Stock purchased at the time written notice of exercise of an Option is given to the Company and the proceeds of any payment shall be considered general funds of the Company. The Administrator in its discretion include in any Option agreement, or separately approve in connection with the exercise of any Option, any one or more of the following additional methods of payment:

(a) Subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, acceptance of the Grantee’s full recourse promissory note for all or part of the Option price, payable on such terms and bearing such interest rate as determined by the Administrator (but in no event less than the minimum interest rate specified under the Code at which no additional interest or original issue discount would be imputed), which promissory note may be either secured or unsecured in such manner as the Administrator shall approve (including, without limitation, by a security interest in the shares of the Company);

(b) Delivery by the optionee of shares of Common Stock already owned by the optionee for all or part of the Option price, provided the fair market value (determined as set forth in Section 6.1.9) of such shares of Common Stock is equal on the date of exercise to the Option price, or such portion thereof as the optionee is authorized to pay by delivery of such stock;

(c) Through the surrender of shares of Common Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, provided the fair market value (determined as set forth in Section 6.1.9) of such shares of Common Stock is equal on the date of exercise to the Option price, or such portion thereof as the optionee is authorized to pay by surrender of such stock; and

 

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(d) By means of so-called cashless exercises through a securities broker to the extent permitted under applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve Board.

6.1.7 Termination of Employment . Unless otherwise provided in the applicable agreement, if for any reason a Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, Options held by the Grantee at the date of termination of employment (to the extent then exercisable) may be exercised in whole or in part at any time (but in no event after the Expiration Date) within one year of the date of termination in the case of termination by reason of death or disability; at the commencement of business on the date of a termination for “cause” (as defined in the applicable agreement or in any agreement with the Company pertaining to employment); and, in all other cases, within 90 days of the date of termination. For purposes of this Section 6.1.7, a Grantee’s employment shall not be deemed to terminate by reason of the Grantee’s transfer from the Company to an Affiliate, or vice versa, or sick leave, military leave or other leave of absence approved by the Administrator, if the period of any such leave does not exceed 90 days or, if longer, if the grantee’s right to reemployment by the Company or any Affiliate is guaranteed either contractually or by statute

6.1.8 Withholding and Employment Taxes . At the time of exercise and as a condition thereto, or at such other time as the amount of such obligation becomes determinable, the Grantee of an Option or SAR shall remit to the Company in cash all applicable federal and state withholding and employment taxes. Such obligation to remit may be satisfied, if authorized by the Administrator in its sole discretion, after considering any tax, accounting and financial consequences, by the holder’s (a) delivery of a promissory note in the required amount on such terms as the Administrator deems appropriate, (b) tendering to the Company previously owned shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company with a fair market value equal to the required amount, or (c) agreeing to have shares of Common Stock (with a fair market value equal to the required amount), which are acquired upon exercise of the Option or SAR, withheld by the Company.

6.1.9 Other Provisions . Each Option and SAR granted under the Plan may contain such other terms, provisions, and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Administrator, and each ISO granted under the Plan shall include such provisions and conditions as are necessary to qualify the Option as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

6.1.10 Determination of Fair Market Value . For purposes of the Plan, the fair market value of Common Stock or other securities of the Company shall be determined as follows:

(a) If the stock of the Company is listed on a securities exchange or is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, and selling prices are reported, its fair market value shall be the closing price of such stock on the date the value is to be determined, but if selling prices are not reported, its fair market value shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for such stock on the date the value is to be determined (or if there are no quoted prices for the date of grant, then for the next business day on which there are quoted prices).

 

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(b) In the absence of an established market for the stock, the fair market value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator, with reference to the Company’s net worth, prospective earning power, dividend-paying capacity, and other relevant factors, including the goodwill of the Company, the economic outlook in the Company’s industry, the Company’s position in the industry, the Company’s management, and the values of stock of other corporations in the same or a similar line of business.

6.1.11 Option and SAR Term . No Option or SAR shall be exercisable more than 10 years after the date of grant, or such lesser period of time as is set forth in the applicable agreement (the end of the maximum exercise period stated in the agreement is referred to in the Plan as the “ Expiration Date ”).

6.2 Terms and Conditions to Which Only NQOs and SARs Are Subject . Options granted under the Plan which are designated as NQOs and SARs shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

6.2.1 Exercise Price . The exercise price of an NQO and the base value of an SAR shall be the amount determined by the Administrator as specified in the option or SAR agreement, but shall not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant (determined under Section 6.1.10).

6.3 Terms and Conditions to Which Only ISOs Are Subject . Options granted under the Plan which are designated as ISOs shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

6.3.1 Exercise Price . The exercise price of an ISO shall not be less than the fair market value (determined in accordance with Section 6.1.10) of the stock covered by the Option at the time the Option is granted. The exercise price of an ISO granted to any person who owns, directly or by attribution under the Code (currently Section 424(d)), stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Affiliate (a “ 10% Stockholder ”) shall in no event be less than 110% of the fair market value (determined in accordance with Section 6.1.10) of the stock covered by the Option at the time the Option is granted.

6.3.2 Disqualifying Dispositions . If stock acquired by exercise of an ISO granted pursuant to the Plan is disposed of in a “disqualifying disposition” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code (a disposition within two years from the date of grant of the Option or within one year after the issuance of such stock on exercise of the Option), the holder of the stock immediately before the disposition shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the date and terms of the disposition and shall provide such other information regarding the Option as the Company may reasonably require.

6.3.3 Grant Date . If an ISO is granted in anticipation of employment as provided in Section 5.4, the Option shall be deemed granted, without further approval, on the date the Grantee assumes the employment relationship forming the basis for such grant, and, in addition, satisfies all requirements of the Plan for Options granted on that date.

6.3.4 Term . Notwithstanding Section 6.1.11, no ISO granted to any 10% Stockholder shall be exercisable more than five years after the date of grant.

 

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6.4 Terms and Conditions Applicable Solely to SARs . In addition to the other terms and conditions applicable to SARs in this Section 6, the holder shall be entitled to receive on exercise of an SAR only Common Stock at a fair market value equal to the benefit to be received by the exercise (the excess of the value of the Common Stock over the base value).

6.5 Manner of Exercise . A Grantee wishing to exercise an Option or SAR shall give written notice to the Company at its principal executive office, to the attention of the officer of the Company designated by the Administrator, accompanied by payment of the exercise price and/or withholding taxes as provided in Sections 6.1.6 and 6.1.8. The date the Company receives written notice of an exercise hereunder accompanied by the applicable payment will be considered as the date such Option or SAR was exercised. Promptly after receipt of written notice of exercise and the applicable payments called for by this Section 6.5, the Company shall, without stock issue or transfer taxes to the holder or other person entitled to exercise the Option or SAR, deliver to the holder or such other person a certificate or certificates for the requisite number of shares of Common Stock. A holder or permitted transferee of an Option or SAR shall not have any privileges as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be issued until the date of issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or a duly authorized transfer agent) of such shares.

 

7. RESTRICTED STOCK

7.1 Sale of Restricted Stock .

7.1.1 No awards of Restricted Stock shall be made under the Plan after 10 years from the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board.

7.1.2 The Administrator may issue Restricted Stock under the Plan for such consideration (including services, and, subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, recourse promissory notes) and such other terms, conditions and restrictions as determined by the Administrator; provided that the sales price may not be less than the fair market value of the stock (as determined under Section 6.1.10). The restrictions may include restrictions concerning transferability, repurchase by the Company and forfeiture of the shares issued, together with such other restrictions as may be determined by the Administrator. If shares are subject to forfeiture or repurchase by the Company, all dividends or other distributions paid by the Company with respect to the shares may be retained by the Company until the shares are no longer subject to forfeiture or repurchase, at which time all accumulated amounts shall be paid to the recipient.

7.1.3 All Common Stock issued pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall be subject to a purchase agreement, which shall be executed by the Company and the prospective recipient of the Common Stock prior to the delivery of certificates representing such stock to the recipient. The purchase agreement may contain any terms, conditions, restrictions, representations and warranties required by the Administrator. The certificates representing the shares shall bear any legends required by the Administrator.

7.1.4 The Administrator may require any purchaser of Restricted Stock to pay to the Company in cash upon demand amounts necessary to satisfy any applicable federal, state or local tax withholding requirements. If the purchaser fails to pay the amount demanded, the

 

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Administrator may withhold that amount from other amounts payable by the Company to the purchaser, including salary, subject to applicable law. With the consent of the Administrator in its sole discretion, a purchaser may deliver Common Stock to the Company to satisfy this withholding obligation.

7.2 Corporate Transactions . In the event of a Corporate Transaction, as defined in Section 6.1.2 hereof, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may remove any restrictions as to any Restricted Stock or it may provide that all outstanding Restricted Stock participate in the Corporate Transaction with an equivalent stock substituted by an applicable successor corporation subject to the restrictions.

 

8. COMPLIANCE WITH CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS .

8.1 Except during any period in which the grant of Options and grant or sale of Restricted Stock under this Plan is exempt from qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968 pursuant to any exemption other than Section 25102(o) of such Law, the Plan, all Options granted and all Restricted Stock granted or sold under the Plan shall comply with Sections 260.140.41, 260.140.42, 260.140.45 and 260.140.46 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, as in effect and as from time to time amended (“ Title 10 ”), including the following (which shall be deemed modified or amended by any corresponding change in the applicable regulations):

8.1.1 At no time shall the total number of securities issuable upon exercise of all outstanding options (excluding options, warrants and rights excluded by Section 260.140.45) and the total number of shares provided for under any stock bonus or similar plan or agreement of the Company exceed the 30% limitation set forth in Section 260.140.45 of Title 10 based on the securities of the Company which are outstanding at the time the calculation is made.

8.1.2 The exercise price of the Option, and the purchase price of Restricted Stock, shall not be less than 85% (100% in the case of any person who owns securities possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities of the Company) of the fair market value of the stock covered by the Option at the time the Option is granted (with fair value and total combined voting power determined in accordance with Section 260.140.41(b) and 260.140.42(b), as applicable, of Title 10).

8.1.3 No Option shall be transferable except by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as permitted by Rule 701 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

8.1.4 If the Option is granted to an employee other than an officer, director, manager or consultant, it shall be exercisable at the rate of at least 20% per year over five years.

8.1.5 If the Restricted Stock is sold to an employee other than an officer, director, manager or consultant, any right to repurchase at the original purchase price must lapse at the rate of at least 20% per year over five years and the right to repurchase must be exercised for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the stock within 90 days of termination of employment.

 

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8.1.6 If the Option gives the Company the right to repurchase shares acquired upon exercise of the Option upon termination of employment, it must comply with Section 260.140.41 of Title 10.

8.1.7 The Option shall remain exercisable (to the extent the optionee is entitled to exercise on the date of termination of employment) for at least: (i) six months after the date of termination of employment where termination occurs by reason of an optionee’s death or disability; or (ii) 30 days after the date of termination of employment if termination was for any reason other than death, disability or termination by the Company for cause (as defined in the applicable agreement or in any agreement with the Company pertaining to employment) (provided that in each case that the Option shall not be exercisable after the Expiration Date).

8.2 Annual Financial Statements . The Company shall provide to each Grantee financial statements of the Company at least annually.

 

9. EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP

Nothing in the Plan, any Option or SAR granted under the Plan, or any Restricted Stock sold under the Plan, shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or of any of its Affiliates to terminate the employment of any Grantee or holder of Restricted Stock or an SAR at any time, nor confer upon any Grantee or holder of Restricted Stock or an SAR any right to continue in the employ of, or consult with, or advise, the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

10. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES

10.1 Securities Laws . Notwithstanding the provisions of any Option, SAR or offer of Restricted Stock, the Company shall have no obligation to issue shares under the Plan unless such issuance shall be registered or qualified under applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), or exempt from such registration or qualification. The Company shall have no obligation to register or qualify such issuance under the Securities Act or other securities laws.

10.2 Non-Compete Agreement . As a further condition to the receipt of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of an Option or SAR or the receipt of Restricted Stock, the Grantee or recipient of Restricted Stock may be required not to render services for any organization, or engage directly or indirectly in any business, competitive with the Company at any time during which (i) an Option or SAR is outstanding to such Grantee and for six months after any exercise of an Option or SAR or the receipt of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of an Option or SAR and (ii) Restricted Stock is owned by such recipient and for six months after the restrictions on such Restricted Stock lapse. Failure to comply with this condition shall cause such Option or SAR and the exercise or issuance of shares thereunder and/or the award of Restricted Stock to be rescinded and the benefit of such exercise, issuance or award to be repaid to the Company.

 

11. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN

The adoption of the Plan shall not be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Company to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options other than under the Plan.

 

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12. MARKET STAND-OFF

Each Grantee and recipient of Restricted Stock, if so requested by the Company or any representative of the underwriters in connection with any registration of the offering of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, shall not sell or otherwise transfer any shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of Options, SARs or receipt of Restricted Stock during the 180-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act; provided , however , that such restriction shall apply only to a registration statement of the Company which includes securities to be sold on behalf of the Company to the public in an underwritten public offering under the Securities Act and the restriction period shall not exceed 90 days after the registration statement becomes effective.

 

13. AMENDMENTS TO PLAN

The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan. Without the consent of a Grantee or holder of Restricted Stock, no amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuance may adversely affect such person’s outstanding Option(s), SAR(s) or the terms applicable to Restricted Stock except to conform the Plan and ISOs granted under the Plan to the requirements of federal or other tax laws relating to ISOs. No amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuance shall require stockholder approval unless (a) stockholder approval is required to preserve incentive stock option treatment for federal income tax purposes or (b) the Board otherwise concludes that stockholder approval is advisable.

 

14. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN; TERMINATION

The Plan became effective on March 1, 2006, the date of adoption by the Board; provided , however , that no shares of Common Stock may be issued, and no Option or SAR shall be exercisable, unless and until the Plan is approved by the holders of a majority of the stockholders of the Company entitled to vote within 12 months after adoption by the Board. If any Options or SARs are so granted and stockholder approval shall not have been obtained within 12 months of the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board, such Options and SARs shall terminate retroactively as of the date they were granted. The Plan (but not Options and SARs previously granted under the Plan) shall terminate March 1, 2016. Termination of the Plan shall not affect any outstanding Options or SARs or the terms applicable to previously awarded Restricted Stock, which shall continue to be governed by the Plan.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

TroyGould PC

1801 Century Park East, 16th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90067

July 21, 2011

Pyramid Oil Company

2008 – 21 st Street

Bakersfield, California 93302

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Pyramid Oil Company, a California corporation (the “Company ”), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “ Registration Statement ”), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission ”) on or about the date of this opinion letter, relating to 293,875 shares of common stock of the Company, no par value (the “ Shares ”), that are issuable under the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request and in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined and relied upon originals or copies of: (1) the Registration Statement; (2) the Plan; (3) the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date; (4) the Company's Bylaws, as amended to date; (5) resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors pertaining to the Registration Statement, the Shares, and related matters; and (6) such other documents, corporate records, and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have also reviewed such matters of law as we considered necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion expressed below.

With your permission, we have made and relied upon the following assumptions, without any independent investigation or inquiry by us, and our opinion expressed below is subject to, and limited and qualified by the effect of, such assumptions: (1) all corporate records furnished to us by the Company are accurate and complete; (2) the Registration Statement to be filed by the Company with the Commission will be identical to the form of the document that we have reviewed; (3) all statements as to factual matters that are contained in the Registration Statement (including the exhibits to the Registration Statement) and the Plan are accurate and complete; (4) the Company will issue the Shares in accordance with the terms of the Registration Statement and the Plan; (5) the Company will at all times remain duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of California; (6) the Company will at all times reserve a sufficient number of shares of its unissued common stock as is necessary to provide for the issuance of the Shares; (7) in connection with each issuance of any Shares, the Company will duly execute and deliver a stock certificate evidencing the Shares or, with respect to any Shares issued on an uncertificated basis, the Company will comply with applicable law regarding the documentation of uncertificated securities; and (8) with respect to documents that we reviewed in connection with this opinion letter, all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic; all documents submitted to us as certified, facsimile, or photostatic copies conform to the originals of such documents, and such original documents are authentic; the signatures on all documents are genuine; and all natural persons who have executed any of the documents have the legal capacity to do so.


Pyramid Oil Company

July 21, 2011

Page 2 of 2

The law covered by our opinion expressed below is limited to the internal corporate laws of the General Corporation Law of the State of California (including applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the California General Corporation Law and applicable reported judicial decisions interpreting the California General Corporation Law). We neither express nor imply any opinion with respect to any other laws or the laws of any other jurisdiction.

We undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to advise you of any change in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in laws, a change in any fact relating to the Company, or any other circumstance. This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein, and no opinions are to be inferred or may be implied beyond the opinion expressly set forth below. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we neither express nor imply any opinion regarding the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as expressly stated below with respect to the Shares.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Registration Statement and the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

This opinion letter is rendered to you solely in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement and may not be relied upon for any other purpose. We consent to the filing with the Commission of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ TroyGould PC
TROYGOULD PC

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Pyramid Oil Company of our report dated March 30, 2011, relating to our audit of the financial statements, which appear in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

/s/ SingerLewak LLP

SingerLewak LLP

 

Los Angeles, CA

July 20, 2011