[StBernard] BP to send second advance payment

[Westley Annis]

BP to send second advance payment in June to affected businesses and
individuals to compensate for loss of income or net profit 
 
ROBERT, La. -- BP said it will be sending a second advance payment during
June to individuals and businesses along the Gulf Coast to compensate for
the loss of income or net profit due to the cleanup of the Deepwater Horizon
Incident in the Gulf of Mexico. 

With the second advance payments, BP estimates it will have spent about $84
million for loss of income or net profit through June, based on the claims
it has received to date. This number will grow as additional claims are
filed. 

"We deeply regret the impact the oil spill has had on individuals and
businesses, and understand the need for quick and reasonable compensation,"
said Doug Suttles, chief operating officer, BP Exploration and Production.
"We hope these payments will assist individuals, businesses and the
communities impacted." 

About 14,000 individuals and businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama
and Florida have received an initial advance payment for loss of income or
net profit to date. 

With the second payment, about 7,900 individuals and businesses in Louisiana
will have received about $50 million for loss of income or net profit by the
end of June. The numbers for Alabama are about 3,000 claimants receiving
about $16 million, in Mississippi about 1,900 individuals and businesses
receiving about $10 million, and in Florida about 1,200 claimants receiving
about $8 million. BP expects these numbers will grow as claims continue to
be filed during the month. 

The second advance payment will be the same amount as the first payment
received; no check will be reduced. The mailings will start this week.
Individuals and businesses will receive their second payment about 30 days
after their initial advance payment was received. Checks will be mailed
along with a letter that is printed in four languages -- English, Spanish,
Vietnamese, and Khmer. 

BP has moved to pay advances as fast as possible and, therefore, is still
conducting evaluations of losses by claimants. Payment adjustments may be
required in the future when evaluations are completed; however, BP will not
seek repayment if it overpaid advances. Loss of income or net profit
payments are made in advance because individuals and businesses need to pay
their bills. 

Claimants, who have provided documentation that demonstrates their loss of
income or net profit was larger through May than the initial advance payment
received, also will receive a supplemental payment for those losses. This
payment will be provided after direct consultation with a claims adjuster. 

Individuals or businesses with questions about an existing claim should
contact BP's toll free number at 1-800-573-8249. To file a new claim, the
number is 1-800-440-0858. 

For information about the response effort, visit
www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.