EX-99.1 2 v465176_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING

 

INFORMATION CIRCULAR – PROXY STATEMENT

 

   

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Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders – May 25, 2017

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS  
   
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES 5
   
REVOCABILITY OF PROXY 6
   
PERSONS MAKING THE SOLICITATION 6
   
EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY PROXY 6
   
ADVICE TO BENEFICIAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES 6
   
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES 7
   
ADVANCE NOTICE BYLAW 8
   
QUORUM FOR MEETING 8
   
APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS 8
   
MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON AT THE MEETING 8
   
Financial Statements 8
   
Fixing the Number of Directors 8
   
Appointment of Directors 9
   
Appointment of Auditors 18
   
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION 19
   
ADVISORIES 21
   
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 22
   
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 37
   
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE 37
   
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON 42
   
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS 42
   
OTHER MATTERS 42
   
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 42
   
SCHEDULE "A" – MANDATE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  
   
SCHEDULE "B" – OPTION-BASED AWARDS – STOCK OPTION PLAN  
   
SCHEDULE "C" – SHARE-BASED AWARDS – RESTRICTED AND PERFORMANCE AWARD INCENTIVE PLAN  
   
SCHEDULE "D" – AMENDED BY-LAW  

 

   

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ADVANTAGE OIL & GAS LTD.
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

TO BE HELD ON

 

MAY 25, 2017

 

TO: THE SHAREHOLDERS OF ADVANTAGE OIL & GAS LTD.

 

Notice is hereby given that an Annual General and Special Meeting (the "Meeting") of the holders ("Shareholders") of common shares (the "Shares") of Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. (the "Corporation") will be held in Meeting Rooms 1 and 2 at the Millennium Tower, 440 – 2nd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta on May 25, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. (Calgary time), for the following purposes:

 

1.to place before the Shareholders the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the Auditor's Report thereon;

 

2.to fix the number of directors of the Corporation at six (6) directors;

 

3.to elect six (6) directors of the Corporation;

 

4.to consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass, an ordinary resolution confirming By-Law No. 1 of the Corporation adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, as more particularly described in the accompanying management information circular of the Corporation dated April 20, 2017 (the "Information Circular");

 

5.to appoint the auditors of the Corporation and to authorize the directors to fix their remuneration as such; and

 

6.to transact such further and other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.

 

The nature of the business to be transacted at the Meeting is described in further detail in the Information Circular.

 

The record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting is April 20, 2017 (the "Record Date"). Shareholders of the Corporation whose names have been entered in the register of Shareholders at the close of business on that date will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting, provided that, to the extent a Shareholder transfers the ownership of any of such Shareholder's Shares after such date and the transferee of those Shares establishes that the transferee owns the Shares and requests, not later than 10 days before the Meeting, to be included in the list of Shareholders eligible to vote at the Meeting, such transferee will be entitled to vote those Shares at the Meeting.

 

A Shareholder may attend the Meeting in person or may be represented by proxy. Shareholders who are unable to attend the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in person are requested to date, sign and return the accompanying form of proxy for use at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. To be effective, the enclosed proxy must be deposited with Computershare Trust Company of Canada: (i) by mail using the enclosed return envelope or one addressed to Computershare Trust Company of Canada, 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1; (ii) by hand delivery to Computershare Trust Company of Canada, 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1; (iii) by facsimile to (416) 263-9524 or 1-866-249-7775; or (iv) through the internet at www.investorvote.com, not later than forty-eight (48) hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays in the Province of Alberta) prior to the time set for the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. If you vote through the internet you will require your 15-digit control number found on the form of proxy.

 

   

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The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy are officers of the Corporation. Each Shareholder has the right to appoint a proxyholder other than such persons, who need not be a Shareholder, to attend and to act for such Shareholder and on such Shareholder's behalf at the Meeting. To exercise such right, the names of the nominees of Management of the Corporation should be crossed out and the name of the Shareholder's appointee should be legibly printed in the blank space provided. If you vote through the internet, you may also appoint another person to be your proxyholder. Please go to www.investorvote.com and follow the instructions.

 

In the event of a strike, lockout or other work stoppage involving postal employees, all documents required for delivery by the Shareholder should be delivered by facsimile to Computershare Trust Company of Canada as registrar and transfer agent of the Corporation at 1-866-249-7775.

 

DATED at Calgary, Alberta this 20th day of April, 2017.

 

  BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  OF ADVANTAGE OIL & GAS LTD.
   
  (signed) "Andy J. Mah"
  Andy J. Mah
  President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director

 

   

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ADVANTAGE OIL & GAS LTD.

 

Management Information Circular
for the Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders
to be held on May 25, 2017

 

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

 

This management information circular (the "Information Circular") is furnished by the officers and directors ("Management") of Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. (the "Corporation" or "Advantage") in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Corporation for use at the Annual General and Special Meeting (the "Meeting") of the holders (the "Shareholders") of common shares (the "Shares" or the "Common Shares") to be held on the 25th day of May, 2017 in Meeting Rooms 1 and 2 at the Millennium Tower, 440 - 2nd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta at 1:30 p.m. (Calgary time) and at any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, for the purposes set forth in the Notice of Annual General and Special Meeting.

 

The Corporation is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares, each of which entitles the holder thereof to vote at meetings of Shareholders. Each Common Share outstanding on the Record Date (as defined below) is entitled to one vote.

 

A Shareholder may attend the Meeting in person or may be represented by proxy. Shareholders who are unable to attend the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof in person are requested to date, sign and return the accompanying form of proxy for use at the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. To be effective, the enclosed proxy must be deposited with Computershare Trust Company of Canada: (i) by mail using the enclosed return envelope or one addressed to Computershare Trust Company of Canada, 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1; (ii) by hand delivery to Computershare Trust Company of Canada, 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1; (iii) by facsimile to (416) 263-9524 or 1-866-249-7775; or (iv) through the internet at www.investorvote.com, not later than forty-eight (48) hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays in the Province of Alberta) prior to the time set for the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof. If you vote through the internet you will require your 15-digit control number found on the form of proxy.

 

The board of directors (the "Board") of the Corporation has fixed the record date for the Meeting at the close of business on April 20, 2017 (the "Record Date"). Shareholders of the Corporation whose names have been entered in the register of Shareholders at the close of business on that date will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting, even if the Shareholder has since that time disposed of his or her Shares, provided that, to the extent a Shareholder transfers the ownership of any of such Shareholder's Shares after such date and the transferee of those Shares establishes that the transferee owns the Shares and requests, not later than 10 days before the Meeting, to be included in the list of Shareholders eligible to vote at the Meeting, such transferee will be entitled to vote those Shares at the Meeting.

 

The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed by the Shareholder or his or her attorney authorized in writing or, if the Shareholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal or by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized.

 

The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy are officers of the Corporation. Each Shareholder has the right to appoint a proxyholder other than the persons designated in the form of proxy furnished by the Corporation, who need not be a Shareholder, to attend and act for the Shareholder and on the Shareholder's behalf at the Meeting. To exercise such right, the names of the persons designated by Management should be crossed out and the name of the Shareholder's appointee should be legibly printed in the blank space provided. If you vote through the internet, you may also appoint another person to be your proxyholder. Please go to www.investorvote.com and follow the instructions.

 

Unless otherwise stated, the information contained in this Information Circular is given as at April 20, 2017.

 

   

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REVOCABILITY OF PROXY

 

A Shareholder who has submitted a proxy may revoke it at any time prior to the exercise thereof. If a person who has given a proxy attends personally at the Meeting at which such proxy is to be voted, such person may revoke the proxy and vote in person. In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a proxy may be revoked by instrument in writing executed by the Shareholder or his or her attorney authorized in writing or, if the Shareholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal or by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized and deposited either at the head office of the Corporation at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, at which the proxy is to be used, or with the Chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, and upon either of such deposits, the proxy is revoked.

 

PERSONS MAKING THE SOLICITATION

 

The solicitation is made on behalf of the Management of the Corporation. The costs incurred in the preparation and mailing of the form of proxy, Notice of Annual General and Special Meeting and this Information Circular will be borne by the Corporation. In addition to solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited by personal interviews, telephone or other means of communication and by directors, officers and employees of the Corporation, who will not be specifically remunerated therefor. The Corporation may pay the reasonable costs incurred by persons who are the registered but not beneficial owners of Shares (such as brokers, dealers, other registrants under applicable securities laws, nominees and/or custodians) in sending or delivering copies of this Information Circular, the Notice of Annual General and Special Meeting and form of proxy to the beneficial owners of such Shares. The Corporation will provide, without cost to such persons, upon request to the Corporation, additional copies of the foregoing documents required for this purpose.

 

EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY PROXY

 

The Shares represented by the form of proxy enclosed with the Notice of Annual General and Special Meeting and this Information Circular will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions of the Shareholder on any ballot that may be called for. If the Shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the Shares will be voted accordingly, but if no specification is made, the Shares will be voted in favour of the matters set forth in the proxy. If any amendments or variations are proposed at the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof to matters set forth in the proxy and described in the accompanying Notice of Annual General and Special Meeting and this Information Circular, or if any other matters properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, the proxy confers upon the Shareholder's nominee discretionary authority to vote on such amendments or variations or such other matters according to the best judgment of the person voting the proxy at the Meeting. At the date of this Information Circular, Management of the Corporation knows of no such amendments or variations or other matters to come before the Meeting.

 

ADVICE TO BENEFICIAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

The information set forth in this section is of significant importance to many Shareholders of the Corporation, as a substantial number of the Shareholders of the Corporation do not hold Shares in their own name. Shareholders who do not hold their Shares in their own name (referred to in this Information Circular as "Beneficial Shareholders") should note that only proxies deposited by Shareholders whose name appears on the records of the Corporation as a registered holder of Shares can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting. If Shares are listed in an account statement provided to a Shareholder by a broker, then in almost all cases those Shares will not be registered in the Shareholder's name on the records of the Corporation. Such Shares will more likely be registered under the name of the Shareholder's broker or an agent of that broker. In Canada, the vast majority of such Shares are registered under the name of CDS & Co. (the registration name for CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc., which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms). Shares held by brokers or their nominees can only be voted upon the instructions of the Beneficial Shareholder. Without specific instructions, brokers/nominees are prohibited from voting Shares for their clients. The Corporation does not know and cannot determine for whose benefit the Shares registered in the name of CDS & Co. are held.

 

   

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Applicable regulatory policy requires intermediaries/brokers to seek voting instructions from Beneficial Shareholders in advance of Shareholders' meetings. Every intermediary/broker has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions, which should be carefully followed by Beneficial Shareholders in order to ensure that their Shares are voted at the Meeting. Often, the form of proxy supplied to a Beneficial Shareholder by its broker is identical to the form of proxy provided to registered Shareholders. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the registered Shareholders how to vote on behalf of the Beneficial Shareholder. The majority of brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. ("Broadridge"). Broadridge typically mails a scannable Voting Instruction Form in lieu of the form of Proxy. The Beneficial Holder is requested to complete and return the Voting Instruction Form to them by mail or facsimile. Alternatively, the Beneficial Shareholder can call a toll-free telephone number to vote the Shares held by the Beneficial Shareholder or the Beneficial Shareholder can complete an on-line voting form to vote their Shares. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of the Shares to be represented at the Meeting. A Beneficial Shareholder receiving a Voting Instruction Form cannot use that Voting Instruction Form to vote Shares directly at the Meeting as the Voting Instruction Form must be returned as directed by Broadridge well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the Shares voted. If a Beneficial Shareholder wishes to vote indirectly at the Meeting, the registered Shareholder must strike out the name of the persons named in the instrument of proxy provided to the registered Shareholder and insert the name of the Beneficial Holder in the space provided and return the same to their broker (or the broker's agent) in accordance with the instructions provided by such broker (or agent), well in advance of the Meeting.

 

The Corporation is not using "notice-and-access" to send its proxy-related materials to Shareholders, and paper copies of such materials will be sent to all Shareholders, including Beneficial Shareholders. The Corporation will be delivering proxy-related materials to non-objecting Beneficial Shareholders with the assistance of Broadridge and the non-objecting Beneficial Shareholder's intermediary and intends to pay for the costs of an intermediary to deliver proxy related materials to objecting Beneficial Shareholders.

 

These securityholder materials are being sent to both registered and non-registered owners of Shares. If you are a non-registered owner, and the Corporation or its agent has sent these materials directly to you, your name and address and information about your holdings of Shares, have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the intermediary holding on your behalf.

 

VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES

 

The Corporation is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Shares. As at April 20, 2017, an aggregate of 185,925,873 Common Shares were issued and outstanding. At the Meeting, upon a show of hands, every Shareholder present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote shall have one vote. On a poll or ballot, every Shareholder present in person or represented by proxy has one vote for each Share of which such Shareholder is the registered holder.

 

The Board has fixed the Record Date for the Meeting at the close of business on April 20, 2017.

 

When any Share is held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at the Meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Share, but if more than one of them shall be present at the Meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners of the proxy so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, the joint owner present or represented whose name appears first in the register of Shareholders maintained by the registrar and transfer agent shall be entitled to such vote.

 

Other than as disclosed below, to the best of the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Corporation as at April 20, 2017, there is no person or corporation that beneficially owns or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, Shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to the issued and outstanding Shares:

 

   

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Name of Shareholder  Shares Owned, Controlled or
Directed(1)
   Percentage of the Outstanding Shares of
the Corporation(2)
 
           
Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.   21,977,506    11.8%

 

Notes:

 

(1)Information in respect of number of Shares owned, controlled or directed was based on a Schedule 13G Statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership by individuals filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 filed on the Corporation's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov/edgar on February 10, 2017.

 

(2)As at April 20, 2017, there were 185,925,873 Shares issued and outstanding.

 

ADVANCE NOTICE BYLAW

 

On May 9, 2013, the Board approved the adoption by the Corporation of a By-law regarding advance notice of nominations of directors of the Corporation (the "Advance Notice By-law"), which was filed on SEDAR on May 17, 2013 and ratified by Shareholders at the Corporation's annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on June 20, 2013. The Advance Notice By-law contains advance notice provisions, which provide Shareholders, the Board and management of the Corporation with a clear framework for nominating directors to help ensure orderly business at Shareholder meetings by effectively preventing a Shareholder from putting forth director nominations from the floor of a Shareholder meeting without prior notice. Among other things, the Advance Notice By-law fixes a deadline by which Shareholders must submit notice of director nominations to the Corporation prior to any annual or special meeting of Shareholders. It also specifies the information that a nominating Shareholder must include in the notice to the Corporation regarding each director nominee and the nominating Shareholder for the notice to be in proper written form in order for any director nominee to be eligible for nomination and election at any annual or special meeting of Shareholders. These requirements are intended to provide all Shareholders with the opportunity to evaluate and review the proposed candidates and vote on an informed and timely manner regarding such nominees. The Advance Notice By-law does not affect nominations made pursuant to a "proposal" made in accordance with the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) ("ABCA") or a requisition of a meeting of Shareholders made pursuant to the ABCA. As of the date of this Information Circular, the Corporation has not received any nominations pursuant to the advance notice provisions contained in the Advance Notice By-law.

 

QUORUM FOR MEETING

 

At the Meeting, a quorum shall consist of persons present not being less than two (2) in number and holding or representing not less than twenty-five per cent (25%) of the Shares entitled to be voted at the Meeting.

 

APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

 

All of the matters to be considered at the Meeting are ordinary resolutions requiring approval by more than 50% of the votes cast in respect of the resolution by or on behalf of Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting.

 

MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON AT THE MEETING

 

Financial Statements

 

At the Meeting, the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the Independent Auditor's Report on such statements will be placed before Shareholders, but no vote by the Shareholders with respect thereto is required or proposed to be taken.

 

Fixing the Number of Directors

 

At the Meeting, it is proposed that the number of directors of the Corporation to be elected at the Meeting be set at six (6), as may be adjusted between Shareholders' meetings by way of resolution of the Board. Accordingly, unless otherwise directed, it is the intention of Management to vote proxies in the accompanying form in favour of fixing the number of directors of the Corporation to be elected at the Meeting at six (6).

 

   

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Appointment of Directors

 

Majority Voting for Directors

 

The Board has adopted a policy stipulating that if the "WITHHOLD" votes in respect of the election of a director nominee at the Meeting represent more than the "FOR" votes, the nominee will submit his or her resignation to the Board immediately after the Meeting, for the Human Resources, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee's (the "Compensation Committee") consideration.

 

The Compensation Committee will consider such resignation and will make a recommendation to the Board after reviewing the matter as to whether to accept it or not, having regard to all matters it deems relevant. The Board will consider the Compensation Committee's recommendation within 90 days of the Meeting and determine whether to accept it or not, having regard to all matters it deems relevant, and a news release (the "News Release") will be provided to the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX" or the "Exchange") and promptly issued announcing the Board's determination in respect thereof. If the Board determines not to accept the resignation, the News Release will fully state the reasons for that decision.

 

A director who tenders his/her resignation pursuant to this policy will not participate in any meetings of the Board or Compensation Committee at which such resignation is considered. The policy does not apply in circumstances involving contested director elections.

 

Board Renewal

 

Annually, the Compensation Committee conducts a performance evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board, Board committees and the effectiveness and contribution of individual directors. As part of such evaluation, the Compensation Committee evaluates the need for changes to Board and committee composition based on an analysis of the skills, expertise and industry experience necessary for the Corporation. The Compensation Committee and the Board recognize the benefit that new perspectives, ideas and business strategies can offer and support periodic Board renewal. The Compensation Committee and the Board also recognize that a director’s experience and knowledge of the Corporation's business is a valuable resource. Accordingly, the Board believes that the Corporation and its shareholders are better served with the regular assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, Board committees and the effectiveness and contribution of individual directors together with periodic Board renewal, rather than on arbitrary age and tenure limits. Accordingly, the Board has not adopted a formal term limit policy for directors.

 

Election of Directors

 

At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to vote "FOR" or "WITHHOLD" on the proposed directors set forth below to hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until each directors' successor is duly elected or appointed in accordance with the ABCA. There are presently six (6) directors of the Corporation, all of which have been nominated for re-election at the Meeting.

 

It is the intention of the Management designees, if named as proxy, to vote "FOR" the election of the following persons to the Board unless otherwise directed. Management does not contemplate that any of such nominees will be unable to serve as a director. However, if for any reason any of the proposed nominees does not stand for election or is unable to serve as such, the Management designees, if named as proxy, reserve the right to vote for any other nominee in their sole discretion unless a Shareholder has specified in their proxy that their Common Shares are to be withheld from voting on the election of directors.

 

   

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The names, provinces and countries of residence, age and independence of each of the persons nominated for election as directors of the Corporation, the period served as director and the principal occupation of each, the number of voting securities of the Corporation beneficially owned or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly by such persons as at December 31, 2016 and April 20, 2017 and the value of such voting securities on such dates, the offices held by each in the Corporation, and attendance at Board and committee meetings held in 2016 are as follows:

 

Stephen E. Balog

Alberta, Canada

 

Status: Independent

 

Age: 66

 

Director since

August 16, 2007

President, West Butte Management Inc., a private consulting company that provides technical and business advisory services to oil and gas operators. Formerly Principal of Alconsult International Ltd., and prior thereto President, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of Tasman Exploration Ltd. from 2001 to June, 2007. Mr. Balog has extensive oil and gas industry experience in the management and operation of senior and junior production companies. He was a key contributor to the development and use of the Canadian Oil & Gas Evaluation Handbook as an industry standard for reserves evaluation, and has previously served on the Petroleum Advisory Committee, Alberta Securities Commission.

 

Mr. Balog is a registered Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta and holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

 

Other Public Company Board Memberships:

None

 

Share Ownership:

 

    December 31, 2016     April 20, 2017  
Shares Owned, Controlled or Directed and Share Equivalents(5) (7)     86,257       88,495  
Total Market Value of Shares   $ 786,664 (1)   $ 768,137 (2)

 

  Current Committee Memberships:
  Audit Committee
  Compensation Committee
  Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee (Chair)
   
  2016 Board and Committee Meeting Attendance:

 

  Meeting Attendance
Board 8 of 8 (100%)
Audit Committee 4 of 4 (100%)
Compensation Committee 2 of 2 (100%)
Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee 2 of 2 (100%)

 

  Voting Results of 2016 AGM:

 

   % of Votes 
Votes For   99.12%
Votes Withheld   0.88%

 

   

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Grant B. Fagerheim Alberta, Canada

 

Status: Independent

 

Age: 58

 

Director since

May 26, 2014

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Whitecap Resources Inc., a public oil and gas company, since June 2008. Mr. Fagerheim has over 30 years of diverse experience in both the upstream and downstream areas of the oil and gas business. Prior to establishing Whitecap Resources Inc., Mr. Fagerheim was the President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Cadence Energy Inc. (formerly Kereco Energy Ltd.), a public oil and gas company, from January 2005 to September 2008.

 

Mr. Fagerheim received his Bachelor's degree in Education (Economics Minor) from the University of Calgary in 1983 and attended the Executive MBA program at Queen's University in 1995.

 

Other Public Company Board Memberships:

Whitecap Resources Inc.

 

Share Ownership:

  

   December 31, 2016   April 20, 2017 
Shares Owned, Controlled or Directed and Share Equivalents(5) (7)   71,680    73,918 
Total Market Value of Shares  $653,722(1)  $641,608(2)

 

  Current Committee Memberships:
  Compensation Committee
  Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee
   
  2016 Board and Committee Meeting Attendance:

 

  Meeting Attendance
Board 7 of 8 (87.5%)
Compensation Committee 2 of 2 (100%)
Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee 2 of 2 (100%)

 

  Voting Results of 2016 AGM:

 

   % of Votes 
Votes For   98.82%
Votes Withheld   1.18%

 

   

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Paul G. Haggis

Alberta, Canada

 

Status: Independent

 

Age: 65

 

Director since

November 7, 2008

Mr. Haggis was President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) from September 2003 to March 2007, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSPIB) during 2003 and Executive Vice-President, Development and Chief Credit Officer of Manulife Financial in 2002. Mr. Haggis has extensive financial markets and public board experience having served on the Board of Directors of Canadian Tire Bank until March 30, 2012. He was a director and Chair of the Investment Committee of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and currently serves as an advisor to the committee. He was also Chair of the Audit Committee of C.A. Bancorp and Prime Restaurants Royalty Income Fund and the Chair of Canadian Pacific Railway. Currently he is on the board of Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust, a director of Sunshine Village Corp., a private Alberta company, and is Chairman of Alberta Enterprise Corp.

 

Mr. Haggis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario and is certified as a Chartered Director through the Directors College at McMaster University.

 

Other Public Company Board Memberships:

None

 

Share Ownership:

  

   December 31, 2016   April 20, 2017 
Shares Owned, Controlled or Directed and Share Equivalents(5) (7)   77,955    80,193 
Total Market Value of Shares  $710,950(1)  $696,075(2)

 

  Current Committee Memberships:
  Audit Committee (Chair)
  Compensation Committee
  Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee
   
  2016 Board and Committee Meeting Attendance:

  

  Meeting Attendance
Board 7 of 8 (87.5%)
Audit Committee 4 of 4 (100%)
Compensation Committee 2 of 2 (100%)
Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee 2 of 2 (100%)

 

  Voting Results of 2016 AGM:

 

   % of Votes 
Votes For   99.11%
Votes Withheld   0.89%

 

   

13

 

Andy J. Mah

Alberta, Canada

 

Status: Not Independent

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Age: 58

 

Director since

June 23, 2006

President since April 21, 2011. Chief Executive Officer since January 27, 2009. President and Chief Operating Officer from June 23, 2006 to January 27, 2009. Chief Operating Officer of Longview Oil Corp. ("Longview") from December 15, 2010 to November 7, 2013. Prior thereto, President of Ketch Resources Ltd. from October 2005 to June 2006. Chief Operating Officer of Ketch Resources Ltd. from January 2005 to September 2005. Prior thereto, Executive Officer and Vice President, Engineering and Operations of Northrock Resources Ltd. from August 1998 to January 2005.

 

Other Public Company Board Memberships:

None

 

Share Ownership:

 

   December 31, 2016   April 20, 2017 
Shares Owned, Controlled or Directed   976,517    1,086,326 
Total Market Value of Shares  $8,905,835(1)  $9,429,310(2)

 

  Current Committee Memberships:
  None
   
  2016 Board and Committee Meeting Attendance:

  

  Meeting Attendance
Board 8 of 8 (100%)

 

  Voting Results of 2016 AGM:

  

   % of Votes 
Votes For   99.43%
Votes Withheld   0.57%

 

   

14

 

Ronald A. McIntosh

Alberta, Canada

 

Status: Independent

 

Age: 75

 

Chairman since

February 4, 2014

 

Director since

September 25, 1998(3)

Chairman of North American Energy Partners Inc., a publicly traded corporation and a former director of Fortaleza Energy Inc., previously known as Alvopetro Inc., formerly named Fortress Energy Inc. Mr. McIntosh has extensive experience in the energy business. His previous roles included President and Chief Executive Officer of Navigo Energy, Chief Operating Officer of Gulf Canada, Vice President Exploration and International of PetroCanada and Chief Operating Officer of Amerada Hess Canada.

 

Other Public Company Board Memberships:

North American Energy Partners Inc.

Share Ownership:

   December 31, 2016   April 20, 2017 
Shares Owned, Controlled or Directed and Share Equivalents(5) (7)   116,575    119,559 
Total Market Value of Shares  $1,063,164(1)  $1,037,772(2)

 

  Current Committee Memberships:
  Compensation Committee (Chair)
  Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee
   
  2016 Board and Committee Meeting Attendance:

  

  Meeting Attendance
Board 8 of 8 (100%)
Compensation Committee 2 of 2 (100%)
Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee 2 of 2 (100%)

 

  Voting Results of 2016 AGM:

 

   % of Votes 
Votes For   98.79%
Votes Withheld   1.21%

 

   

15

 

Jill T. Angevine

Alberta, Canada

 

Status: Independent

 

Age: 49

 

Director since

May 27, 2015

Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Matco Financial Inc. (an independent, privately held asset management firm) since October 2013. Independent businesswoman from September 2011 until October 2013 and prior thereto, Vice President and Director, Institutional Research at FirstEnergy Capital Corp. (a financial advisory and investment services provider in the energy market).

 

Other Public Company Board Memberships:

Chinook Energy Inc.

Tourmaline Oil Corp.

 

Share Ownership:

 

   December 31, 2016   April 20, 2017 
Shares Owned, Controlled or Directed and Share Equivalents(5) (7)   29,415    35,653 
Total Market Value of Shares  $268,265(1)  $309,468(2)

 

  Current Committee Memberships:
  Audit Committee
  Compensation Committee(6)
   
  2016 Board and Committee Meeting Attendance:

 

  Meeting Attendance
Board 8 of 8 (100%)
Audit Committee 4 of 4 (100%)
Compensation Committee 2 of 2 (100%)

 

  Voting Results of 2016 AGM:

  

   % of Votes 
Votes For   99.10%
Votes Withheld   0.90%

 

Notes:

 

(1)Calculated based on the number of Shares and deferred share units ("DSU") owned, controlled or directed as at December 31, 2016 multiplied by the closing price of the Shares on the TSX on December 30, 2016 of $9.12.
(2)Calculated based on the number of Shares and DSUs owned, controlled or directed as at April 20, 2017 multiplied by the closing price of the Shares on the TSX on April 20, 2017 of $8.68.
(3)The period of time served by Mr. McIntosh as a director of Advantage includes the period of time served as a director of Search Energy Corp. ("Search") prior to the reorganization of Search into a trust structure and the change of name of Search to Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. Mr. McIntosh was appointed a director of post-reorganization Search on May 24, 2001.
(4)Advantage does not have an executive committee of the Board.
(5)Share equivalents includes vested DSUs outstanding at the dates indicated.
(6)Ms. Angevine was appointed a member of the Compensation Committee on February 11, 2016.
(7)On August 4, 2016 the Corporation's share ownership policy was updated to require each non-executive Board member to maintain a minimum value of Shares representing at least three times the Board member's annual Board member cash retainer. The members of the Board were all in compliance at December 31, 2016 with the Corporation's share ownership policy.

 

As at April 20, 2017, the directors and executive officers of the Corporation, as a group, beneficially owned or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 2,702,097 Shares, being approximately 1.5% of the outstanding Shares. The information as to Shares beneficially owned or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, is based upon information furnished to the Corporation by the respective nominees as at April 20, 2017.

 

Cease Trade Orders or Bankruptcies

 

Except as set forth below, no proposed director of the Corporation is or within the ten years prior to the date of this Information Circular has been:

 

(a)a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any issuer (including the Corporation) that while that person was acting in that capacity, was the subject of a cease trade order or similar order or an order that denied the issuer access to any statutory exemptions for a period of more than 30 consecutive days; or

 

   

16

 

(b)a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any issuer (including the Corporation) that was the subject of a cease trade order or similar order or an order that denied the issuer access to any statutory exemptions for a period of more than 30 consecutive days, after the director ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the issuer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in such capacity; or

 

(c)bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or been subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of that person; or

 

(d)a director or executive officer of any company (including the Corporation) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of the person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets.

 

Mr. McIntosh was a director of Fortress Energy Inc. ("Fortress"). On March 2, 2011, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta granted an order (the "Order") under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) ("CCAA") staying all claims and actions against Fortress and its assets and allowing Fortress to prepare a plan of arrangement for its creditors if necessary. Fortress took such step in order to enable Fortress to challenge a reassessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency ("CRA"). As a result of the reassessment, if Fortress had not taken any action, it would have been compelled to immediately remit one half of the reassessment to the CRA and Fortress did not have the necessary liquid funds to remit, although Fortress had assets in excess of its liabilities with sufficient liquid assets to pay all other liabilities and trade payables. Fortress believed that CRA’s position was not sustainable and vigorously disputed CRA’s claim. Fortress filed a Notice of Objection to the reassessment and on October 20, 2011 announced that its Notice of Objection was successful, CRA having confirmed there were no taxes payable. As the CRA claim had been vacated and no taxes or penalties were owing Fortress no longer required the protection of the Order under the CCAA and on October 28, 2011 the Order was removed. On March 3, 2011 the TSX suspended trading in the securities of Fortress due to Fortress having been granted a stay under the CCAA. In addition the securities regulatory authorities in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec issued a cease trade order with respect to Fortress for failure to file its annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 by March 31, 2011. The delay in filing was due to Fortress being granted the CCAA order on March 2, 2011 and the resulting additional time required by its auditors to deliver their audit opinion. The required financial statements and other continuous disclosure documents were filed on April 29, 2011 and the cease trade order was subsequently removed. On September 1, 2010 Fortress closed the sale of substantially all of its oil and gas assets. As a result of the sale Fortress was delisted from the TSX on March 30, 2011 as it no longer met minimum listing requirements. Fortress was renamed Alvopetro Inc. on November 24, 2012 and Alvopetro Inc. was renamed Fortaleza Energy Inc. in November 2013. Mr. McIntosh ceased to be a director of Fortaleza Energy Inc. on January 18, 2016.

 

Mr. Fagerheim was formerly a director of The Resort at Copper Point Ltd. (a private real estate development company) which was placed in voluntary receivership in February 2009.

 

Penalties or Sanctions

 

No proposed director or any personal holding companies of a proposed director of the Corporation have been subject to: (a) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or (b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable security holder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.

 

   

17

 

Confirmation of Amended and Restated By-law

 

Background

 

On April 10, 2017, the Board passed a resolution replacing the bylaws of the Corporation with By-Law No. 1 attached to this Information Circular as Schedule "D" (the "Amended By-law"), subject to confirmation of such Amended By-law by Shareholders of the Corporation. The amendments reflected in the Amended By-law are summarized below and are also reflected in the blacklined Amended By-law contained in Schedule "D" to this Information Circular.

 

Quorum – Increase from 5% to 25%

 

The Amended By-law provides that a quorum at any meeting of shareholders (unless a greater number of persons are required to be present or a greater number of shares are required to be represented by the ABCA or by the articles or by any other by-law) shall be persons present not being less than two (2) in number and holding or representing not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares entitled to be voted at the meeting. The quorum at any meeting of shareholders was previously persons present not being less than two (2) in number and holding or representing not less than five percent (5%) of the shares entitled to be voted at the meeting.

 

Elimination of Chairman's Casting Vote

 

The Amended By-law provides that in the event of any equality of votes at a meeting of the Board, the Chairman of the applicable meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote. The previous bylaws gave the Chairman a casting vote in the event of a dead lock.

 

Signing Authority – Increase from One Signatory to Two and Change to Signing Authorities

 

The Amended By-law provides that unless otherwise authorized by the Board, deeds, transfers, assignments, contracts, obligations, certificates and other instruments may be signed on behalf of the Corporation by any two of the president, chairman of the board, managing director, any vice-president, any director, controller, corporate secretary, treasurer, any assistant corporate secretary or any assistant treasurer or any other officer created by by-law or by the board. The previous bylaws provided that such instruments could be signed by any one of such persons and the controller was not previously included in the list of signing authorities.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

The Amended By-law includes additional clarification in respect of conflicts of interest, and provides that if a director or officer is acting honestly and in good faith, he or she will not be accountable to the Corporation or to its shareholders for any profit realized from a material contract or material transaction for which disclosure is required by the ABCA, and such contract or transaction shall not be void or voidable by reason only of the director or officer's interest therein, provided that the material contract or material transaction was approved or confirmed by special resolution at a meeting of the shareholders, disclosure of the interest was made to the shareholders in a manner sufficient to indicate its nature before such contract or transaction was approved or confirmed, and such contract or transaction was reasonable and fair to the Corporation at the time it was approved or confirmed.

 

Other Amendments

 

The Amended By-law reflects certain minor housekeeping amendments, as well as amendments that were made to conform to changes to the ABCA and other applicable laws since the bylaws of the Corporation were first adopted, including the Electronic Transactions Act and the Securities Transfer Act (Alberta).

 

Confirmation and Approval of Amended By-law by Shareholders

 

In accordance with the ABCA, the Amended By-law is in effect until it is confirmed, confirmed as amended, or rejected by Shareholders at the Meeting, and if confirmed, or confirmed as amended, the Amended By-law will continue in effect in the form in which it is so confirmed. If Shareholders reject the confirmation of the Amended By-law at the Meeting, it will thereafter cease to have effect. For greater certainty, if the Amended By-law is not confirmed at the Meeting, the Corporation's previous by-laws will continue in effect, unamended.

 

   

18

 

Accordingly, at the Meeting, the following ordinary resolution (the "Amended By-law Resolution") will be presented:

 

"BE IT RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution of the Shareholders of the Corporation, that:

 

1.By-law No. 1, in the form attached as Schedule "D" to this Information Circular, is hereby adopted and confirmed as the by-law of the Corporation; and

 

2.any one officer or director of the Corporation be and is hereby authorized to execute and deliver all such agreements and documents, whether under the corporate seal or otherwise, and to take all action, as such officer or director shall deem necessary or appropriate to give effect to the foregoing resolutions."

 

In order for the Amended By-Law Resolution to be passed, it must be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast by Shareholders who vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Unless otherwise directed, it is the intention of management to vote proxies in favour of the Amended By-Law Resolution.

 

Appointment of Auditors

 

Shareholders will consider an ordinary resolution to appoint the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, to serve as auditors of the Corporation until the next annual meeting of the Shareholders and to authorize the directors of the Corporation to fix their remuneration as such. The Board reviews the annual audit fees and considers the issue of auditor independence in the context of all services provided to the Corporation. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP have been the auditors of the Corporation since September 18, 2007.

 

Certain information regarding the Corporation's Audit Committee that is required to be disclosed in accordance with National Instrument 52-110 of the Canadian Securities Administrators is contained in the Corporation's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2016, an electronic copy of which is available on the internet on the Corporation's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and the Corporation's website at www.advantageog.com.

 

The following table discloses fees billed to us by our auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in the last two fiscal years.

 

Type of Service Provided  2016   2015 
         
Audit Fees(1)  $263,000   $276,800 
Audit-Related Fees(2)   45,000    60,000 
Tax Fees(3)   16,500    25,000 
Other Fees(4)   39,900    - 
           
Total  $364,400   $361,800 

 

Notes:

 

(1)"Audit Fees" include fees necessary to perform the annual audit of the Corporation's consolidated financial statements.
(2)"Audit-Related Fees" include services that are traditionally performed by the auditor. These audit-related services include quarterly reviews of the Corporation's consolidated financial statements.
(3)"Tax Fees" include fees for all tax services other than those included in "Audit Fees" and "Audit-Related Fees". This category includes fees for tax compliance, tax planning and general tax advice, including the preparation and filing of Scientific Research & Experimental Development Tax Credits.
(4)"Other Fees" represents fees related to the public offering of Common Shares completed by the Corporation in 2016.

 

   

19

 

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Effective January 2016, annual compensation payable to the Chairman of Advantage is $90,000 in cash plus $100,000 paid through the granting of DSUs. The Chairman of the Audit Committee is paid a flat fee annual retainer of $62,500 in cash plus $75,000 paid through the granting of DSUs. Each of the other directors of Advantage, with the exception of those who are employees of Advantage, receive a flat fee annual retainer of $50,000 in cash plus $75,000 paid through the granting of DSUs. Originally cash and DSU compensation was 50% cash and 50% DSUs; however, since January 2016, the granting of DSUs has accounted for over 50% of the directors’ compensation. DSUs are notional securities granted to a director and are related directly to the Share price performance from grant date to the date on which the DSUs are redeemed. DSUs vest immediately upon grant but cannot be redeemed until the holder ceases to be a director. The granting of DSUs occurs on a monthly basis. The number of DSUs granted is calculated by dividing the value of the awards by the amount that is the closing price for a Share on the TSX on the trading day immediately prior to the date of grant. On the date that a holder of DSUs ceases to be a director, the monetary amount represented by the DSUs shall be calculated and shall be paid to the Director in cash not later than the end of the first calendar year after the calendar year which includes the termination date.

 

Members of the Board are also eligible to receive stock options ("Stock Options" or "Options") pursuant to the Corporation's stock option plan (the "Option Plan"). However, for the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2016, there were no grants of Options to non-management directors of the Board and no Options are currently outstanding to non-management directors. The participation of non-management directors in the Option Plan is limited to the lesser of: (a) 1.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, in aggregate, for all non-management directors; and (b) an annual equity award value for each non-management director of $100,000, with the value of each Option calculated at the time of grant. All Common Shares issued to non-management directors upon the exercise of Options under the Option Plan must be held by the particular non-management director until the earlier of: (a) three (3) years from the date of issuance of such Common Shares; and (b) the retirement from the Board of the non-management director.

 

All directors are eligible to receive expense reimbursement for costs of attending Board and committee meetings. No meeting fees are paid to independent directors, as, absent exceptional circumstances, directors are not entitled to meeting fees.

 

Directors' Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth for the year ended December 31, 2016, information concerning the compensation paid to Advantage’s directors, other than directors who are also Named Executive Officers (as defined herein):

 

Name  Fees earned
($)
   Share-based
awards
($)(1)
   Option-based
awards
($)(2)
   All other
compensation
($)(3)
   Total
($)
 
Ronald McIntosh   90,000    100,000    Nil    Nil    190,000 
Paul Haggis   62,500    75,000    Nil    Nil    137,500 
Stephen Balog   50,000    75,000    Nil    Nil    125,000 
Grant Fagerheim   50,000    75,000    Nil    Nil    125,000 
Jill Angevine   50,000    75,000    Nil    Nil    125,000 

 

Notes:

 

(1)Represents the fair value of DSUs granted under the DSU Plan. Specifically, the fair value of DSUs was based on the closing trading price on the TSX on the trading day immediately prior to the date of grant. Advantage uses this methodology as it is a commonly recognized means of calculating a meaningful and reasonable estimate of fair value. The actual value of Share-based awards on the date that a holder of DSUs ceases to be a director can fluctuate significantly from the grant date fair value method of valuation as a result of changes in the trading price of the Shares.
(2)For the year ended December 31, 2016, there were no grants of Options to non-management directors of the Board.
(3)For the year ended December 31, 2016, directors did not receive any non-equity plan or pension plan compensation.

 

   

20

 

Directors' Outstanding Option-Based Awards and Share-based Awards

 

The following table sets forth for each of the directors, other than directors who are also NEOs (as defined herein) of Advantage, all option-based awards and share-based awards outstanding at the end of the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

   Option-based Awards(1)   Share-based Awards(2) 
Name   Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(#)
    Option
exercise
price
($)
    Option
expiration
date
    Value of
unexercised
in-the-
money
options
($)
    Number of
shares that
have not
vested
(#)
    Market or
payout value
of share-
based awards
that have not
vested
($)
    Market or
payout value
of vested
share-based
awards not
paid out or
distributed
($)(3)
 
Ronald McIntosh   Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    308,156 
Paul Haggis   Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    247,334 
Stephen Balog   Nil     Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    214,849 
Grant Fagerheim   Nil     Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    197,722 
Jill Angevine   Nil     Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    Nil    122,345 

 

Notes:

 

(1)As at December 31, 2016, non-management directors did not hold any outstanding Options.
(2)Represents DSUs granted pursuant to the DSU Plan. DSUs vest immediately upon grant.
(3)The value is calculated by multiplying the number of vested DSUs granted pursuant to the DSU Plan and which were not paid out or distributed at December 31, 2016 by the market price of the Shares at December 30, 2016, being $9.12 per Share.

 

Directors' Incentive Plan Awards – Value Vested or Earned During the Year

 

The following table sets forth for each of the directors other than directors who are also NEOs of Advantage, the value of option-based awards and share-based awards which vested during the year ended December 31, 2016. Applicable Canadian securities legislation defines a "non-equity incentive plan" as an incentive plan (being a plan providing compensation that depends on achieving certain performance goals or similar conditions within a specified period) that is not an incentive plan under which awards are granted and that falls within the scope of IFRS 2 Share based Payment (for example, a cash bonus plan). Advantage did not grant any non-equity incentive plan compensation to its directors during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Name 

Option-based awards – Value
vested during the year(1)

($)

  Share-based awards – Value
vested during the year(2)
($)
 
Ronald McIntosh  Nil   100,000 
Paul Haggis  Nil   75,000 
Stephen Balog  Nil   75,000 
Grant Fagerheim  Nil   75,000 
Jill Angevine  Nil   75,000 

 

Notes:

 

(1)There were no grants of Options to non-management directors in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and no Options are currently outstanding to non-management directors.
(2)The value is calculated by multiplying the number of vested DSUs by the market price of the Shares on the vesting date.

 

   

21

 

ADVISORIES

 

Certain information contained in this Information Circular is based upon an evaluation (the "Sproule Report") prepared by Sproule Associates Limited dated February 7, 2017 and effective December 31, 2016 and prepared in accordance with the standards contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook and the reserves definitions contained in National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101").

 

This Information Circular contains certain oil and gas metrics, including finding and development ("F&D") costs, operating netback, capital efficiency and recycle ratio, which do not have standardized meanings or standard methods of calculation and therefore such measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies and should not be used to make comparisons. Such metrics have been included herein to provide readers with additional measures to evaluate the Corporation's performance; however, such measures are not reliable indicators of the future performance of the Corporation and future performance may not compare to the performance in previous periods and therefore such metrics should not be unduly relied upon. Operating netback is calculated by adding natural gas and liquids sales with realized gains on derivatives and subtracting royalty expense, operating expense and transportation expense. Recycle ratio is calculated by dividing Advantage's operating netback for the period by the calculated F&D of the applicable period and expressed as a ratio. Capital Efficiency is calculated by dividing year end total capital development costs for oil and gas activities including drilling, completion, facilities, infrastructure, office and capitalized general and administrative costs (excluding abandonment and reclamation costs, exploration and evaluation costs, and acquisition and disposition related costs and proceeds) by the average production additions of the applicable year to replace base production declines and deliver production growth targets, expressed in $/boe/d.

 

The F&D costs contained herein are calculated based on the Sproule Report by adding capital expenditures, and the net change in future development capital ("FDC") divided by reserve additions for the year. Total capital includes both capital expenditures incurred and changes in FDC required to bring proved undeveloped reserves and probable reserves to production during the applicable period. Reserve additions are calculated as the change in reserves from the beginning to the end of the applicable period excluding production. The aggregate of the exploration and development costs incurred in the most recent financial year and the change during that year in estimated FDC generally will not reflect total finding and development costs related to reserve additions for that year. The Glacier proved ("1P") F&D cost for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $0.25/mcfe ($1.49/boe) [2015 - $0.87/mcfe ($5.22/boe)] and the proved plus probable ("2P") F&D cost for the year ended December 31, 2016 was -$0.01/mcfe (-$0.06/boe) [2015 - $0.77/mcfe ($4.65/boe)], including the change in FDC. The recycle ratio for 2016 represents Advantage's fourth quarter operating netback of $2.83/mcfe divided by the 2P F&D cost per mcfe including the change in FDC. Operating netback is calculated as fourth quarter revenue including hedging less royalties, operating costs and transportation costs.

 

A "mcfe" means thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent, using the ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas being equivalent to one barrel of oil. The terms "boe" or barrels of oil equivalent and "mcfe" or thousand cubic feet equivalent may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe and mcfe conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil equivalent (6 Mcf: 1 bbl) is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. As the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

 

The Corporation discloses herein several financial measures that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). These financial measures include operating netbacks, surplus cash and total debt to trailing cash flow ratio. Total debt to trailing cash flow ratio is calculated as indebtedness under the Corporation's credit facilities plus working capital deficit divided by funds from operations for the prior twelve month period. Management believes that these financial measures are useful supplemental information to analyze operating performance and provide an indication of the results generated by the Corporation's principal business activities. Shareholders are cautioned that these measures should not be construed as an alternative to net income or other measures of financial performance as determined in accordance with IFRS. Advantage's method of calculating these measures may differ from other companies, and accordingly, they may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

 

   

22

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Executive Summary

 

Advantage completed and outperformed its 2014 through 2016 Glacier Montney development plan objectives with record operating and financial results in 2016. During the last three years, Advantage transformed into a North American leading low cost Montney natural gas and liquids producer with strong investment returns despite extended periods of historically low commodity prices. Annual production increased by 74% to 203 mmcfe/d (33,890 boe/d) and operating costs per mcfe were reduced by 44% to $0.27/mcfe ($1.62/boe) in 2016. Total corporate cash costs were reduced by 53% to $0.66/mcfe ($3.96/boe) in 2016 resulting in strong operating netbacks of $2.83/mcfe ($16.98/boe) in the fourth quarter of 2016. Advantage reduced its year-end total debt from $289 million in 2013 to $159 million in 2016 including reductions in its total capital program requirements by $177 million, growing its cash flow by 96% and achieving hedging gains of $73 million during the last three years. Advantage generated $39 million of surplus cash (funds from operations less capital) in 2016 which contributed to a strong balance sheet with a 2016 year-end total debt to trailing cash flow ratio of 1.0 and an undrawn credit facility of $247 million that provides significant financial flexibility.

 

Through the application of new technologies in conjunction with Advantage's Montney expertise, significant improvements in well performance combined with lower well and facilities costs contributed to improving all-in capital efficiencies to $7,330/boe/d in 2016. Reserves additions have been achieved at an average three year 2P F&D cost of $0.46/mcfe ($2.76/boe) and 1P F&D cost of $0.75/mcfe ($4.53/boe) including the change in future development capital. The Corporation grew its Montney land holdings by 30% through the acquisition of 36 net sections (23,040 net acres) of targeted high quality lands through Alberta government land sales and producer transactions for a total cost of $13 million. These sections were high graded based on Advantage's geo-technical interpretations and complement the Corporation's existing Montney land holdings. Advantage currently has a total of 157 net sections (100,480 net acres) of Montney lands which are 100% operated and controlled.

 

Advantage's 100% owned Glacier gas plant was expanded from 160 mmcf/d in 2014 to 250 mmcf/d in 2016 including liquids extraction. The sales line lateral was looped to increase pipeline capacity to 400 mmcf/d to accommodate future growth and a current Glacier gas plant expansion is underway to further increase raw processing capacity to 400 mmcf/d. These achievements have created a solid foundation for a continued industry leading low cost structure and increased production growth.

 

As a result of multi-year successes and performance achievements with the Corporation's Montney development, Advantage's Share price during the last three years has increased 98% from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2016 (26% annual average increase) exceeding the S&P/TSX Oil & Gas Exploration & Production GICS Sub Industry Index total return that decreased 18% during this same period. In 2016, Advantage’s Share price resulted in a 30% total return (from a closing price on the TSX of $7.03 on December 31, 2015 to a closing price of $9.12 on December 30, 2016). Advantage is one of the few oil and gas producers that has generated consistent annual positive returns during the last three years. Advantage’s 2016 annual budget parameters were all exceeded while maintaining financial discipline and the overall results were determined by the Compensation Committee and Board to be top quartile performance.

 

General

 

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the executive compensation program for the financial year ended December 31, 2016 applicable to Advantage's President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") and Senior Vice President, representing all of the executive officers of Advantage at December 31, 2016 and whose total salary and bonus exceeds $150,000 (collectively referred to as the "Named Executive Officers" or "NEOs"). Advantage operates extremely efficiently and has only three executive officers while our peer group generally has five or more executive officers.

 

Advantage’s executive management and NEOs for the financial year ended December 31, 2016 were:

 

   

23

 

·Mr. Andy Mah, President and CEO;

 

·Mr. Craig Blackwood, Vice President Finance and CFO; and

 

·Mr. Neil Bokenfohr, Senior Vice President.

 

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis discusses the objectives of Advantage’s executive compensation program, the roles and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee in determining and approving executive compensation, Advantage's philosophy and process for executive compensation, and the elements of compensation.

 

Compensation Objectives and Principles

 

The overall philosophy of Advantage is to provide a compensation program that rewards performance, aligns with shareholder interests and attracts and retains high quality and experienced executives and employees. Advantage believes that compensation should be fair and equitable compared to compensation paid generally in the oil and gas industry.

 

The principal objectives of Advantage's executive compensation program for the financial year ended December 31, 2016 were as follows:

 

(a)attract, motivate and retain the management talent needed to achieve Advantage's business objectives and create long-term value for Shareholders;

 

(b)motivate short and longer term performance of the Named Executive Officers and attempt to align the Named Executives' interests with those of the Shareholders;

 

(c)reward leadership and performance in the achievement of business objectives and the creation of shareholder value; and

 

(d)provide compensation that is competitive in the market place.

 

The Compensation Committee used Mercer (Canada) Limited's ("Mercer") 2016 compensation survey data and considered the compensation practices of other companies operating in similar resource based developments in Western Canada, the Corporation's operating and financial performance in comparison to its peers, and its long-term development plan and objectives in determining the compensation to be paid to the Named Executive Officers.

 

Compensation Governance

 

General

 

The Compensation Committee is charged with, among other things, a periodic review of directors' and officers' compensation having regard to the Corporation's peers, various governance reports on current trends in directors' compensation and independently compiled compensation data for directors and officers of reporting issuers of comparable size to the Corporation. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for identifying new candidates for Board nomination having regard to the strengths and constitution of the Board members and their perception of the needs of the Corporation. The Compensation Committee has the authority to hire experts and advisors, including executive search firms, if required.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee is currently comprised of Ronald McIntosh (Chair), Paul Haggis, Stephen Balog, Grant Fagerheim and Jill Angevine. Jill Angevine was appointed a member of the Compensation Committee on February 11, 2016. All members of the Compensation Committee are independent, in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The skills and experience that enable the members of the Compensation Committee to make decisions on the suitability of the Corporation's compensation policies and practices is summarized below:

 

   

24

 

 

·Ronald McIntosh (Chair) – Mr. McIntosh is the Chairman of North American Energy Partners Inc., a publically traded company, Chair of the Governance Committee and a former member of the Risk and Audit Committees. He is a former director of Fortaleza Energy (formerly Alvopetro) and is a director and Chair of the Reserves Committee and Audit Committees of Corval Energy Ltd., a private oil and gas company. He was Chairman and member of the Audit Committee of Tasman Exploration, a private oil and gas company. He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and is a registered Professional Geologist with the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta and has also completed the Executive Development Program at Columbia University in New York. He brings more than four decades of executive, operational and strategic leadership to the Board with his prior roles including President and CEO of Navigo Energy Inc., Chief Operating Officer of Gulf Canada, Vice President of Exploration and International with PetroCanada and Chief Operating Officer with Amerada Hess Canada. In addition his broad experience with mergers and acquisitions as well as corporate rejuvenation and restructuring provides valuable perspectives and insights to Advantage.

 

·Paul Haggis – Mr. Haggis was the Chairman of Canadian Pacific Railway from June 4, 2012 to May 14, 2015. He has extensive financial markets and public board experience having served on the Board of Directors of Canadian Tire Bank until March 30, 2012. Mr. Haggis was President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) from September 2003 to March 2007, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSPIB) during 2003 and Executive Vice-President, Development and Chief Credit Officer of Manulife Financial in 2002. He was a director and Chair of the Investment Committee of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and currently serves as an advisor to the committee. He is currently on the board of Pure Industrial REIT, a director of Sunshine Village Corp., a private Alberta company, and is Chairman of Alberta Enterprise Corp. Mr. Haggis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario and is certified as a Chartered Director through the Directors College at McMaster University.

 

·Stephen Balog – Mr. Balog is President of West Butte Management Inc., a private consulting company that provides technical and business advisory services to oil and gas operators. He was previously a Principal of Alconsult International Ltd., and prior thereto President, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of Tasman Exploration Ltd., a private oil and gas company. Mr. Balog has extensive executive management experience with western Canadian production companies, including the implementation of performance based employee incentive programs in a senior production company. Mr. Balog is a registered Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta and holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary.

 

·Grant Fagerheim – Mr. Fagerheim is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Whitecap Resources Inc., a public oil and gas company, since June 2008. Prior thereto, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Cadence Energy Inc. (formerly Kereco Energy Ltd.), a public oil and gas company, from January 2005 to September 2008. Mr. Fagerheim received his Bachelor's degree in Education (Economics Minor) from the University of Calgary in 1983 and attended the Executive MBA at Queen's University in 1995. Mr. Fagerheim was previously a member of the board of directors of PRD Energy Inc., a public oil and gas company.

 

·Jill Angevine – Ms. Angevine is Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Matco Financial Inc. (an independent, privately held asset management firm) since October 2013. Independent businesswoman from September 2011 until October 2013 and prior thereto, Vice President and Director, Institutional Research at FirstEnergy Capital Corp. (a financial advisory and investment services provider in the energy market). Ms. Angevine is currently a member of the Board of directors of Chinook Energy Inc. and Tourmaline Oil Corp.

 

   

25

 

Mandate of the Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee assists the Board in meeting their responsibilities by:

 

·reviewing and reporting to the directors concerning the overall compensation program and philosophy;

 

·reviewing and recommending to the directors the compensation program, remuneration levels and incentive plans and any changes therein for senior management, including the CEO;

 

·reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation, evaluating the CEO's performance in light of those goals and objectives, and either, as a Committee or together with the independent directors (as determined by the board), determining and approving the CEO's compensation based on this evaluation;

 

·making recommendations to the directors with respect to compensation of executive officers other than the CEO and incentive compensation and equity based plans that are subject to board approval;

 

·reviewing the adequacy and form of compensation to the directors ensuring it realistically reflects their responsibilities and risk and making recommendations to the directors;

 

·reviewing and evaluating management's recommendations as to the allocation of Options under the Option Plan and performance awards ("Performance Awards") and restricted awards ("Restricted Awards") under the restricted and performance award incentive plan of the Corporation (the "Award Plan") and formulating a recommendation to the directors for approval;

 

·reviewing annually and recommending for approval to the directors the executive compensation disclosure in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section of the Corporation's information circular;

 

·reviewing annually the Compensation Committee's Terms of Reference;

 

·administering the Option Plan, the Award Plan and any other incentive plans implemented by the Corporation, in accordance with their respective terms;

 

·producing a report on executive officer compensation on an annual basis; and

 

·succession planning in respect of senior executives and providing guidance in respect of executive capacity.

 

In early 2014, the Compensation Committee retained Mercer to assist the Board and the Compensation Committee in reviewing and determining the compensation of executive officers of the Corporation. Mercer reviewed the competitiveness and appropriateness of the Corporation's compensation practices as compared to a selected peer group of 24 companies and provided observations and made recommendations for change, where appropriate. As a result of this review, the Board and the Compensation Committee implemented the Award Plan for all employees, officers and consultants and a deferred share unit plan (the "DSU Plan") for non-management directors.

 

   

26

 

The following compensation advisor was retained by the Corporation in the last two most recently completed financial years:

 

Consultant  Year Retained  Mandate  Executive
Compensation-
Related Fees
(includes GST)
   All Other Fees
              
Mercer (Canada) Ltd.  2015  Advice on equity incentive compensation programs and advisory services as required from time to time.  $21,346   Nil
               
Mercer (Canada) Ltd.  2016  Total compensation benchmarking, recommend and develop potential long-term incentive alternatives, advice on competitiveness and appropriateness of compensation programs and advisory services as required from time to time.  $52,926   Nil

 

Compensation Committee Review Process

 

The Compensation Committee reviewed the compensation of the Named Executive Officers for the year ended December 31, 2016 to ensure that such compensation attracted and retained a strong management team and recommended to the Board for approval the compensation of such Named Executive Officers. In making salary determinations, the Compensation Committee considers individual salaries paid to executives of other organizations within the oil and gas industry as published by Mercer. The Corporation participates in the annual Mercer Total Compensation Survey for the Energy Sector, the most recent survey dated April 1, 2016 (the "Mercer Survey"), to assist with benchmarking executive compensation as compared to peers that operate in business environments similar to Advantage and produce between 10,000 and 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. As a supplement to the Mercer Survey, the Corporation reviews Named Executive Officer total compensation and pay practices disclosed in management information circulars for several specific industry peers. The Corporation additionally engaged Mercer in 2014 to benchmark executive pay as compared to selected peer organizations that have executive management positions similar to those of Advantage and reflect the scope of responsibilities required at the executive level. Mercer regularly reviews compensation practices in Canada, industry reports and surveys, and compensation data from peer companies. The Corporation generally targets each executive’s total compensation at approximately the 50th percentile of comparable positions with the opportunity for the executive to increase total compensation through meeting and exceeding performance objectives that will impact variable compensation. The specific industry peer companies utilized for compensation benchmarking were as follows:

 

2016 Peer Group  Total Assets(1)(3)
($000)
   Cash Flow
From
Operating
Activities(2)(3)
($000)
   Market
Capitalization(1)
($000)
   Gas
Production(2)(3)
%
 
ARC Resources Ltd.   5,990,500    630,700    8,164,447    67%
Bellatrix Exploration Ltd.   1,453,730    37,546    315,630    72%
Birchcliff Energy Ltd.   2,710,457    140,514    2,474,073    84%
Bonavista Energy Corporation   3,172,157    260,792    1,199,022    68%
Crew Energy Inc.   1,293,040    77,478    1,102,558    73%
Enerplus Corporation   2,638,850    312,290    3,063,753    54%
Kelt Exploration Ltd.   1,255,958    44,720    1,189,299    63%
NuVista Energy Ltd.   961,240    126,751    1,198,855    66%
Painted Pony Petroleum Ltd.   1,336,955    44,658    923,459    93%
Paramount Resources Ltd.   2,058,960    45,752    1,911,518    55%
Pengrowth Energy Corporation   4,101,300    493,700    1,057,078    38%
Penn West Petroleum Ltd.   3,339,000    (137,000)   1,191,550    37%
Peyto Exploration & Development Corp.   3,463,089    508,629    5,467,368    92%
Storm Resources Ltd.   465,617    33,783    640,048    83%

 

   

27

 

2016 Peer Group  Total Assets(1)(3)
($000)
   Cash Flow
From
Operating
Activities(2)(3)
($000)
   Market
Capitalization(1)
($000)
   Gas
Production(2)(3)
%
 
Surge Energy Inc.   1,115,257    55,320    747,248    21%
Trilogy Energy Corp.   1,224,714    47,748    952,063    70%
Vermilion Energy Inc.   4,087,184    509,540    6,680,677    52%
Whitecap Resources Inc.   5,134,940    365,138    4,479,148    22%
Median(4)   2,058,960    126,751    1,198,855    67%
Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd.   1,496,459    174,906    1,684,048    97%
Advantage’s Percentile(4)   44%   61%   61%   100%

 

Notes:

 

(1)Represents the value at December 31, 2016.
(2)Represents the value for the year ended December 31, 2016.
(3)Information was obtained from documents filed publicly by the 2016 peer group on their issuer profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

(4)Calculated including Advantage within the dataset.

 

Components of Compensation

 

Total compensation for the Named Executive Officers in 2016 consisted of base salary, bonuses, certain perquisites and benefits including contributions to the employee share purchase plan of Advantage (the "Purchase Plan") and Performance Awards. The 2016 compensation details for the NEOs are as follows:

 

Components of Compensation    Andy Mah   Neil
Bokenfohr
   Craig
Blackwood
 
                
Cash Compensation:                  
Salary  Fixed   17%   19%   20%
Bonuses  Variable   28%   27%   24%
Perquisites and Benefits  Fixed   2%   2%   3%
Equity Incentive Compensation:                  
Performance Awards  Variable   53%   52%   53%

 

The Compensation Committee endeavours to find an appropriate balance between fixed and variable compensation and cash versus equity incentive compensation. Cash compensation (base salary, benefits and perquisites and a discretionary annual bonus) primarily rewards short-term internal and individual performance measures. Equity incentive awards align the Corporation with market performance and encourages the Named Executive Officers to deliver improved corporate performance over a longer period of time so the Corporation’s value continues to grow. The Compensation Committee reviews the compensation evaluation provided by Management and consults with the CEO before making a determination to recommend approval of or changes to compensation to the full Board.

 

In assessing individual executive performance, consideration is given to factors such as level of responsibility, experience and expertise, as well as more subjective factors such as leadership and performance in the Named Executive Officer's specific role. The Compensation Committee also considers quantitative factors in determining compensation of Named Executive Officers such as financial and operational results, reserves growth, staff development, corporate governance, environmental health and safety and the vision and growth strategy of the Corporation. For annual long-term incentive awards, the Compensation Committee primarily considers a Named Executive Officer's potential for future high-quality performance and leadership as part of the executive management team, taking into account past performances as a key indicator.

 

   

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Risk Adjusted Compensation

 

As part of its review of the Corporation's compensation program for the year ended December 31, 2016, the Compensation Committee considered whether the compensation program provided executive officers with adequate incentives to achieve both short and long-term objectives without motivating them to take inappropriate or excessive risks. This assessment was based on a number of considerations including, without limitation, the following:

 

·a total compensation program appropriately balanced between fixed and variable compensation and short-term and long-term compensation designed to reward individual performance and encourage delivery of favourable results over both a short and longer period of time;

 

·the terms of the Option Plan provides that Options vest as determined by the Board with an expiration date between three and five years from the date of grant. The terms of the Award Plan provide that Performance Awards vest three years after the date of grant. This encourages executive officers to continue to create favourable results over a longer period of time and reduces the risk of actions that may create unfavourable impacts in the short term;

 

·a portion of executive compensation in the form of bonuses is not guaranteed and is variable year over year. The Board has discretion to pay bonuses to Named Executive Officers based on recommendations made by the Compensation Committee, which are based on internal corporate, administrative, operating and financial and reserve addition performance as compared to annual quantitative and qualitative targets;

 

·the Corporation's compensation program is structured consistently for all executive officers within the Corporation;

 

·the overall compensation program is market based and aligned with the Corporation's business plan and long-term strategies; and

 

·certain share ownership guidelines and policies that have been implemented by the Corporation for the NEOs. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Share Ownership Policies" in this Information Circular.

 

The Compensation Committee has not identified any risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation.

 

Salary

 

Named Executive Officers' salaries are reviewed annually and are established taking into consideration individual salaries of executives at comparable companies within the oil and gas industry determined using the Mercer Survey. Base salaries are designed to provide income certainty and to attract and retain executive management. The process undertaken by the Compensation Committee to determine the CEO's salary requires that the CEO receive an industry competitive salary, as approved by the Board. The CEO's, Senior Vice President’s and CFO’s salary levels were below the median range for oil and gas issuers similar to Advantage in 2016. Named Executive Officers' base salaries for 2015 and 2016 were not increased due to the downturn in the oil and gas sector.

 

Bonus Plan

 

The Board has discretion to pay bonuses to Named Executive Officers based upon recommendations made by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews and considers feedback from the CEO and makes a recommendation to the Board for approval. The payment of annual bonuses is designed to reward company and individual performance of the Named Executive Officers and is based on annual targets. The Compensation Committee and Board will give appropriate consideration to a variety of quantitative and qualitative factors including, internal corporate, operating, financial, health, safety and environment, reserve additions and administration achievements.

 

   

29

 

Key accomplishments factored into the bonus determination for 2016 include the following:

 

·completed and outperformed 2014 through 2016 Glacier Montney development plan objectives with record operating and financial results in 2016 underscored by increased production and cash flow per share financed utilizing funds from operations and available credit facility;

 

·continued to reinforce Advantage's position as lowest cost Montney natural gas producer in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin with total cash costs reduced by 20% to $0.66/mcfe as compared to 2015 (includes royalties, operating expense, transportation expense, general and administrative expense, and finance expense) including operating expense that experienced a 25% reduction to $0.27/mcfe;

 

·increased average annual daily production 44% to 203 mmcfe/d for 2016 as compared to 2015 with an exit production of 221 mmcfe/d;

 

·continued to improve well productivity in the Montney through improved drilling and completion techniques that contributed to overall well cost reductions and improving all-in capital efficiencies to $7,330/boe/d in 2016. This resulted in improving well economics, higher initial production rates, and lower declines leading to fewer wells required to execute the Corporation's multi-year development plan whereby the three-year development plan capital was reduced by $177 million with no change in production growth;

 

·achieved a record low proved developed producing F&D cost of $0.84/mcfe ($5.04/boe) for the year ended December 31, 2016. Realized 1P F&D cost of $0.25/mcfe ($1.49/boe) for the year ended December 31, 2016 and a three year average of $0.76/mcfe ($4.53/boe) including the change in FDC. Achieved top decile negative 2P F&D cost of -$0.01/mcfe (-$0.06/boe) for the year ended December 31, 2016 and a three year average 2P F&D cost of $0.46/mcfe ($2.76/boe) including the change in FDC. These reserve addition costs were achieved despite increased facilities costs to include an upsized Glacier gas plant expansion to 400 mmcf/d and future infrastructure costs including a frac water supply system, gas gathering system expansions and additional utilities;

 

·generated significant positive technical revisions from continued gains in well production performance that accounted for 46% of 2P reserve additions and replaced 429% of annual 2016 production with a 2P recycle ratio for 2016 of 3.4 times, based on Advantage’s fourth quarter operating netback;

 

·further strengthened the balance sheet and enhanced financial flexibility through generating $39 million of surplus cash (funds from operations less capital) in 2016 which contributed to a 2016 year-end total debt to trailing cash flow ratio of 1.0 and an undrawn credit facility of $247 million;

 

·acquired 16 additional net sections of Doig/Montney land rights in the Glacier, Valhalla and Wembley areas proximal to our existing land holdings;

 

·continued to build a commodity risk management portfolio through to 2019 that provided $53.1 million of realized cash gains in 2016, reduces the volatility of future cash flows in support of our multi-year development plan, and contributes to future market diversification; and

 

·achieved a score of 98% in the Certificate of Recognition audit program, which is an independent provincially administered program that requires stringent quality standards and execution of the Corporation’s environment, health and safety management practices.

 

Based on the 2016 achievements, the Corporation had another year of exceptional performance resulting in strong Share performance during a continual challenging environment. Bonuses were determined based on Mercer quartile rankings and peer group data relative to each Named Executive Officers performance. Bonuses paid to the Named Executive Officers for the year ended December 31, 2016, totalled $1,335,000 (December 31, 2015 - $745,000) reflective of this strong performance.

 

   

30

 

Long-Term Compensation

 

The Corporation’s long-term compensation consists primarily of equity based awards. This encourages executive officers to continue to create favourable results over a longer period of time and reduces the risk of actions that may have only short-term advantages. The Corporation's option-based equity awards currently consist of Options granted pursuant to the Option Plan and the Corporation's share-based equity awards currently consist of Performance Awards granted pursuant to the Award Plan. In 2014 and 2015, the Compensation Committee granted 50% of equity based awards in the form of Options and 50% in the form of Performance Awards, excluding an additional grant of equity based compensation that occurred in 2014 to compensate for a reduction in the granting of equity-based long-term incentive awards in 2013 due to recurring trading blackouts. In 2016 and 2017, the Compensation Committee granted 100% of the equity based awards in the form of Performance Awards to enhance the long-term alignment of such awards with key performance metrics. Total outstanding Options and Performance Awards represent 2.4% of Advantage’s total outstanding Shares as at December 31, 2016.

 

Options

 

Under the Option Plan, the Board may grant Options to purchase Common Shares to directors, officers and employees of, and consultants to the Corporation. The purpose of the Option Plan is to develop the interest of the directors, officers and employees of, and consultants to Advantage and any of its controlled entities in the growth and development of Advantage by providing them with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in Advantage. Options granted vest evenly over three years, starting on the first anniversary date from the date of grant and expire between three and five years from date of grant. In 2014, Options were granted to officers and employees of Advantage representing 2.2% of Advantage’s total outstanding common shares at December 31, 2014. In 2015, Options were granted to officers and employees of Advantage representing 0.6% of Advantage’s total outstanding common shares at December 31, 2015. In 2016, no Options were granted to officers and employees of Advantage.

 

Award Plan

 

The Award Plan grants Restricted Awards and/or Performance Awards (collectively, "Incentive Awards") to persons who are employees or officers of the Corporation or any affiliate (as defined in the ABCA) of Advantage ("Advantage Affiliate") or who are consultants or other service providers to the Corporation or any Advantage Affiliate (collectively, "Service Providers"). Performance Awards granted in 2014 to officers and employees of Advantage represented 0.24% of Advantage’s total outstanding Shares at December 31, 2014 and Performance Awards granted in 2015 represented 0.15% of Advantage’s total outstanding Shares at December 31, 2015. Performance Awards granted in 2016 represented 0.36% of Advantage’s total outstanding Shares at December 31, 2016. Performance Awards cliff vest (all at once) after three years from the date of grant. On the vesting date the number of Performance Awards is multiplied by a Payout Multiplier (as defined herein) applicable to the grant year and multiplied by the previous five day volume weighted average trading price on the TSX of the Shares to determine the Performance Award amount.

 

For the purposes of the Award Plan, "Corporate Performance Measures" for any grant that the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion shall determine, means the performance measures to be taken into consideration in granting Incentive Awards under the Award Plan and determining the payout multiplier by the Compensation Committee (the "Payout Multiplier") which may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the percentile rank, expressed as a whole number, of, with respect to any period, the total return to Shareholders on the Common Shares calculated using cumulative dividends, if any, on a reinvested basis and the change in the trading price of the Common Shares on the TSX over such period (the "Total Shareholder Return") relative to returns calculated on a similar basis on securities of members of the Peer Comparison Group over the applicable period (the "Relative Total Shareholder Return" or "Relative TSR"); (b) annual cash flow per Common Share; (c) absolute or relative cost structure; (d) capital efficiency; (e) key leading and lagging indicators of health, safety and environmental performance of the Corporation and the Advantage Affiliates; (f) the development and execution of the Corporation's strategic plan as determined by the Board; (g) reserves growth or reserves addition efficiencies; and (h) such additional measures as the Compensation Committee or the Board, in its sole discretion, shall consider appropriate in the circumstances.

 

   

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The current Corporate Performance Measures by grant year along with the Payout Multiplier ranges is summarized below:

 

Corporate Performance
Measures
  2014 Grant  2015 Grant  2016 Grant
Relative Total Shareholder Return  ü  ü  ü
Relative Cost Structure  ü  ü  ü
Capital Efficiency     ü  ü
Annual Cash Flow Per Share  ü      
          
Payout Multiplier Range  0 to 2  0 to 2.5  0 to 2.5

 

The 2014 grant of Performance Awards vested on April 16, 2017 and the Compensation Committee assessed the Corporate Performance Measures for 2014 to 2016. Upon recommendation by the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors approved a Payout Multiplier of 2.0, recognizing the outstanding achievement of the Corporate Performance Measures during such three year period.

 

For further details see "Share-Based Awards - Restricted and Performance Award Incentive Plan" in Schedule "C" to this Information Circular.

 

Other Compensation

 

Employee Share Purchase Plan

 

Under a Purchase Plan, all full-time employees of Advantage may contribute an amount of their regular base salary ranging from a minimum of 0% to a maximum of 5% (in 1% increments), excluding bonuses, deferred compensation, overtime pay, statutory holiday pay or any special incentive compensation payments. Advantage will match the contribution on a 2:1 basis. Advantage uses the contributions to acquire Common Shares on behalf of the employees through open market purchases at the current market price on the TSX. Advantage's Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan on the same basis as all other full-time employees of Advantage. For the year ended December 31, 2016, $94,270 was contributed by Advantage to match the contributions of the Named Executive Officers.

 

Perquisites and Benefits

 

To attract and retain high quality executive talent and offer competitive levels of compensation, Advantage provides certain perquisites and benefits to the Named Executive Officers. Perquisites and benefits are reviewed periodically to ensure an appropriate benefit level is maintained. Executive officers are eligible for benefits paid by Advantage, including life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, long-term disability, supplementary medical, dental and paid parking.

 

Pension Plans and Retiring Allowances

 

Advantage does not currently provide its Named Executive Officers, including the CEO, with pension plan benefits or retiring allowances.

 

Share Ownership Policies

 

In 2014, the Board adopted a mandatory share ownership policy for executive officers, which provides that executive officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer) are required to acquire and hold equity securities of the Corporation with a minimum aggregate market value of two times their annual base salary. The Chief Executive Officer is required to acquire and hold equity securities of the Corporation with a minimum aggregate market value of three times his annual base salary. The policy was updated on August 4, 2016 to require each of the NEOs to meet and maintain ownership of a minimum value of Shares representing at least three times their annual base salary. The NEOs have a period of five (5) years from the date of the implementation of the policy, or from the date of their appointment, whichever is later, to acquire the value required. Compliance with the policy will be confirmed on December 31 of each year. The current NEOs were all in compliance at December 31, 2016 with this mandatory share ownership policy as depicted in the following table:

   

32

 

Name  Mandatory
minimum share
ownership value (1)
($)
   Mandatory
share ownership
as a Multiple of
Annual Salary (1)
  Actual Share
Ownership
value (2)
($)
   Actual Share
Ownership value as
a Multiple of Annual
Salary (3)
Andy Mah   1,178,100   3x   8,905,835   22.7x
Neil Bokenfohr   840,000   3x   5,787,182   20.7x
Craig Blackwood   810,000   3x   4,159,103   15.4x

 

Notes:

 

(1)Represents three times the annual base salary for Mr. Mah, Mr. Bokenfohr and Mr. Blackwood.
(2)The value is calculated based on the number of Shares owned at December 31, 2016 multiplied by the market price of Shares at December 30, 2016, being $9.12 per Share.
(3)Represents the actual share ownership value divided by annual base salary.

 

As the NEOs significantly exceed the mandatory minimum share ownership policy, it is the NEOs intentions to occasionally dispose of Shares for financial and estate planning purposes, portfolio diversification or to pay taxes, as applicable.

 

Clawback Policy

 

In order to ensure that policies and processes are in place to govern responsible and ethical behaviors amongst executives officers and to mitigate the risk of material fraud or misconduct by an executive officer, the Board has implemented an Executive Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy (the "Clawback Policy") applicable to the Corporation's executive officers whereby if:

 

·an executive officer engages in fraud or intentional illegal conduct which materially contributed to the need for a restatement of the Corporation’s financial statements;

 

·the executive officer received incentive compensation calculated on the achievement of those financial results; and

 

·the amount of any such incentive compensation actually paid or awarded to an executive officer would have been a lower amount had it been calculated based on such financial statements,

 

then the Clawback Policy provides that the Compensation Committee may, at their sole discretion, subject to certain exceptions and taking into account such considerations as it deems appropriate, seek to recover for the benefit of the Corporation the excess of the incentive compensation the executive officer would have received if the incentive compensation had been computed in accordance with the results as restated, calculated on an after tax basis.

 

Hedging Restrictions

 

Pursuant to Advantage's Disclosure, Confidentiality and Trading Policy, directors and NEOs may not knowingly sell, directly or indirectly, a security of the Corporation if such person selling such security does not own or has not fully paid for the security to be sold. In addition, directors and NEOs may not, directly or indirectly, buy or sell a call or put in respect of a security of the Corporation. Notwithstanding these prohibitions, a director or NEO of the Corporation may sell a security which such person does not own if such person owns another security convertible into such security or an option or right to acquire such security sold, and within 10 days after the sale, such person: (i) exercises the conversion privilege, option or right and delivers the securities so associated to the purchaser; or (ii) transfers the convertible security, option or right, if transferable, to the purchaser.

 

Other than as disclosed above, Advantage does not have any written policies that prohibit a director or NEO from purchasing other financial instruments, including, for greater certainty, forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, or units of exchange funds, that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of equity securities granted as compensation or held, directly or indirectly, by the director or NEO.

 

   

33

 

Shareholder Outreach

 

The Corporation engages its shareholders on an ongoing basis and in a variety of ways, tailored to the specific needs of each shareholder group, including attending and participating in numerous investor conferences throughout the year, where members of the Corporation's senior management team meet with shareholders. The Corporation also conducts numerous roadshows in a variety of cities to meet with shareholders and potential shareholders. In addition to the foregoing, information is also provided to investors through the Corporation's website at www.advantageog.com and investors may contact the Investor Relations department by mail, email or phone.

 

Performance Graph

 

The following graph illustrates Advantage’s five year cumulative Shareholder return, as measured by the closing price of the Common Shares at the end of each financial year, assuming an initial investment of $100 on December 31, 2011, compared to the S&P/TSX Composite Index and the S&P/TSX Oil & Gas Exploration & Production GICS Sub Industry Index.

 

 

Natural gas prices declined dramatically in early 2012 placing considerable downward pressure on Advantage’s financial results and corresponding Share price, regardless of significant organizational accomplishments. During 2013, Advantage continued to improve its balance sheet strength through the sale of conventional assets leading to focused Montney development with improving well results and a natural gas pricing environment that began to recover. In 2014, Advantage became a pure play company with a clearly defined multi-year development plan for its Glacier Montney natural gas resource play. Advantage has consistently executed on this strategy and has grown Montney production to a 2016 exit production rate of approximately 220 mmcfe/d, grown reserves while achieving a three year average 2P F&D cost of $0.46/mcfe ($2.76/boe) including the change in FDC for the year ended December 31, 2016, constructed and expanded a 100% owned and controlled Glacier gas plant, reduced total costs to an industry leading low cost structure, and continued to improve well productivity resulting in robust well economics at current natural gas prices. These achievements supported Advantage's Share price increase of 98% from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2016 exceeding the S&P/TSX Oil & Gas Exploration & Production GICS Sub Industry Index total return that decreased 18% during this same period.

 

Named Executive Officers total compensation decreased in 2012 due to lower equity-based compensation resulting from reduced Share price performance. Total compensation for the Named Executive Officers and staff further decreased in 2013 due to recurring trading blackouts associated with the disposition of non-core assets and the strategic alternatives review process that began on August 22, 2012 and was concluded on February 4, 2014. As a result, Advantage was restricted in granting equity-based compensation to all staff during this period. On February 4, 2014 Advantage established a new corporate strategy and multi-year development plan designed to deliver significant value growth to shareholders. In order to motivate the Named Executive Officers and staff in achieving its new objectives and compensate for the reduction in the granting of equity-based long-term incentive awards during 2013, the Corporation granted additional Options and Performance Awards in 2014. Total compensation paid to the NEOs in 2015 decreased 24% due to the additional grant of equity-based compensation in 2014 and to recognize the challenging industry and market conditions; however, Advantage’s shareholder return for the year was up 26%. Total compensation paid to the NEOs in 2016 increased 9% as compared to 2015 while Advantage’s shareholder return for the year was up 30%.

 

   

34

 

Summary Executive Compensation Tables

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation paid to the NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:

 

                  Non-equity incentive
plan compensation ($)
           
Name and
principal position
  Year  Salary
($)
   Share-based
awards(1)
($)
   Option-
based
awards(2)
($)
   Annual
incentive
plans(3)
   Long-
term
incentive
plans(4)
  Pension
value(4)
($)
  All other
compensation
(5)(6)
($)
   Total
compensation
($)
 
Andy Mah (7)  2016   392,700    1,200,003    Nil    625,000   Nil  Nil   48,479    2,266,182 
President and  2015   392,700    500,000    499,751    325,000   Nil  Nil   349,212    2,066,663 
Chief Executive  2014   392,700    593,250    1,222,826    400,000   Nil  Nil   49,009    2,657,785 
Officer                                       
                                        
Neil Bokenfohr (7)  2016   280,000    780,000    Nil    400,000   Nil  Nil   36,905    1,496,905 
Senior Vice  2015   280,000    324,998    324,839    225,000   Nil  Nil   209,474    1,364,311 
President  2014   275,833    423,025    774,173    300,000   Nil  Nil   36,981    1,810,012 
                                        
Craig Blackwood(7)  2016   270,000    696,000    Nil    310,000   Nil  Nil   35,864    1,311,864 
Vice President,  2015   270,000    290,002    289,853    195,000   Nil  Nil   170,044    1,214,899 
Finance and Chief  2014   259,500    407,859    671,686    240,000   Nil  Nil   35,080    1,614,125 
Financial Officer                                       

 

Notes:

 

(1)Represents the grant date fair value of Performance Awards granted under the Award Plan (there have been no grants of Restricted Awards). Specifically, the fair value of the Performance Awards was based on the closing trading price on the TSX on the trading day immediately prior to the date of grant and a Payout Multiplier of one times. Advantage uses this methodology as it is a commonly recognized means of calculating a meaningful and reasonable estimate of fair value. The actual value of Share-based awards vesting can fluctuate significantly from the grant date fair value method of valuation as a result of changes in the trading price of the Shares and determination of the Payout Multiplier.

 

(2)Represents the grant date fair value of Options granted under the Option Plan and does not represent the cash value of such grant. The fair value is determined using a Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model, using weighted average assumptions including: volatility 2015 – 37%; 2014 - 33%, expected forfeiture rate 2015 – 4.0%; 2014 – 4.0%, and risk-free rate 2015 – 0.48%; 2014 – 1.25%. Advantage uses this methodology as it is a commonly recognized means of calculating a meaningful and reasonable estimate of fair value. The actual value of option-based awards vesting can fluctuate significantly from the imputed value derived under the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model as a result of changes in the trading price of the Shares. No Options were granted to the NEOs in 2016.
   
(3)Reflects cash bonuses earned in 2014 and paid in 2015, cash bonuses earned in 2015 and paid in 2015 and cash bonuses earned in 2016 and paid in 2017. All bonus payments disclosed were paid to the NEOs in their capacities as NEOs of Advantage and for the year ended December 31, 2014 did not include any bonus payments attributable to Longview. See note 7 below.

 

(4)Advantage does not provide long-term incentive plan compensation or pension plan compensation.

 

(5)Perquisites received by each of the NEOs including property or other personal benefits provided to the NEOs include: medical and dental benefits; life insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance; parking allowance; and the Purchase Plan. These benefits are intended to be comparable with those that the NEOs would receive if employed elsewhere in the industry.
   
(6)Other compensation includes: (i) contributions made by Advantage on behalf of NEOs pursuant to the matching provisions of the Purchase Plan. Advantage contributed under the Purchase Plan for the NEOs an aggregate of $93,311 in 2014, $94,270 in 2015 and $94,270 in 2016; and (ii) retention amounts paid in 2015 to the NEOs as follows: Mr. Mah $299,853, Mr. Bokenfohr $171,675 and Mr. Blackwood $133,287.
   

(7)During the year ended December 31, 2014, Advantage and Longview were parties to a Technical Services Agreement (the "TSA"). Under the TSA, Advantage provided the necessary personnel and technical services to manage Longview's business and Longview reimbursed Advantage on a monthly basis for its share of general and administrative charges based on respective levels of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids production. The TSA was terminated by both companies effective February 1, 2014. Subject to reimbursement by Longview as provided under the TSA, Advantage was solely responsible for payment of all salaries, consulting fees, benefits and expenses (including severance or termination payments and related expenses) of the Named Executive Officers. The officers of Longview were paid a salary by Advantage and pursuant to, and in accordance with, the TSA and the formula set out therein, a portion of salary was reimbursed by Longview (Longview was not required to make any direct payments to a Named Executive Officer). In the above table, total compensation including salary, bonus and all other compensation amounts received reflect only the portion of compensation attributable to Advantage and does not include the portion of such compensation which was reimbursed to Advantage by Longview pursuant to the TSA during the year ended December 31, 2014. Mr. Mah and Mr. Bokenfohr resigned as officers of Longview on November 7, 2013. For the period from January 1, 2014 until his resignation as an officer of Longview on February 4, 2014, Mr. Blackwood received $5,075 in salary and $686 in all other compensation. All other compensation consisted of certain perquisites and personal benefits including medical and dental benefits; life insurance; short-term disability and long-term disability insurance; parking allowance; and other benefits.

 

   

35

 

Incentive Plan Awards

 

Outstanding Share-based Awards and Option-based Awards

 

The following table sets forth for each Named Executive Officer all option-based awards and share-based awards outstanding at the end of the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

   Option-based Awards   Share-based Awards(2)
Name 

Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options

(#)

  

Option
exercise
price

($)

   Option
expiration date
  Value of
unexercised
in-the-
money
options (1)
($)
   Number of
Shares that
have not
vested
(#)
   Market or
payout value
of share-
based awards
that have not
vested(3)
($)
   Market or
payout value
of vested
share-based
awards not
paid out or
distributed(4)
($)
Andy Mah   309,904    4.43   March 17, 2017   1,453,450    95,840    874,061   Nil
    345,690    5.87   April 16, 2019   1,123,493    70,922    646,809   Nil
    263,799    6.82   April 6, 2020   606,738    178,042    1,623,743   Nil
                                
Neil Bokenfohr   386,402    4.43   March 17, 2017   1,812,225    68,340    623,261   Nil
    246,483    5.87   April 16, 2019   801,070    46,099    420,423   Nil
    171,470    6.82   April 6, 2020   394,381    115,727    1,055,430   Nil
                                
Craig Blackwood   100,000    4.43   March 17, 2017   469,000    65,890    600,917   Nil
    237,674    5.87   April 16, 2019   772,441    41,135    375,151   Nil
    153,002    6.82   April 6, 2020   351,905    103,264    941,768   Nil

 

Notes:

 

(1)The value is calculated based on the difference between the market price of Shares at December 30, 2016, being $9.12 per Share and the exercise price of the Options.
(2)Represents Performance Awards granted pursuant to the Award Plan.
(3)The value is calculated by multiplying the number of Shares issuable pursuant to unvested Performance Awards (assuming a Payout Multiplier of one times) by the market price of the Shares at December 30, 2016, being $9.12 per Share.
(4)There were no Performance Awards that were vested and not paid out or distributed at December 31, 2016.

 

Value Vested or Earned During the Year

 

The following table sets forth for each Named Executive Officer, the value of option-based awards and share-based awards which vested during the year ended December 31, 2016 and the value of non-equity incentive plan compensation earned during the year ended December 31, 2016. The vesting terms are subject to the Option Plan and Award Plan, as applicable.

 

Name  Option-based awards – Value
vested during the year (1)
($)
  Share-based awards – Value
vested during the year(3)
($)
  Non-equity incentive plan
compensation – Value
earned during the year (2)
($)
 
Andy Mah  Nil  Nil   625,000 
Neil Bokenfohr  Nil  Nil   400,000 
Craig Blackwood  Nil  Nil   310,000 

 

Notes:

 

(1)The value is calculated based on the difference between the market price of Shares on the vesting date and the exercise price of the Options on the vesting date. No Options vested during 2016.

(2)Reflects cash bonuses earned in 2016 and paid in 2017.

(3)The value is calculated by multiplying the number of Shares issuable pursuant to vested Performance Awards by the Payout Multiplier and the market price of the Shares on the vesting date. No Performance Awards vested during 2016.

 

   

36

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following sets forth information in respect of securities authorized for issuance under the Corporation's equity compensation plans as at December 31, 2016.

 

Option Plan Category  Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
  Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
(b)
   Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved
by securityholders
           
Option Plan(1)  3,109,915 Common Shares  $5.75   5,199,530 Common Shares
Award Plan(2)  1,327,663 Common Shares   N/A   1,442,152 Common Shares
Equity compensation plans not approved
by securityholders
  -   -   -
            
Total  4,437,578 Common Shares   N/A   6,641,682 Common Shares

 

Notes:

 

(1)See Schedule "B" to this Information Circular for a description of the terms of the Option Plan. The Option Plan provides for the rolling grant of Options equal to up to six percent (6%) of the issued and outstanding Common Shares less the number of securities outstanding under the Award Plan. Any increase in the issued and outstanding Common Shares will result in an increase in the available number of Common Shares issuable under the Option Plan, and any exercises of Options will make new grants available under the Option Plan.
(2)See Schedule "C" to this Information Circular for a description of the terms of the Award Plan. The Award Plan provides for the rolling grant of Restricted Awards and Performance Awards equal to up to 1.5 percent (1.5%) of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Any increase in the issued and outstanding Common Shares will result in an increase in the available number of Restricted Awards and Performance Awards issuable under the Awards Plan, and any vesting of Restricted Awards and Performance Awards and issuance of Shares pursuant to such Restricted Awards and Performance Awards will make new grants available under the Award Plan.

 

Termination and Change of Control Benefits

 

Each of the Named Executive Officers, including the CEO, has an executive employment contract with Advantage. These contracts provide for participation by the Named Executive Officers in the Option Plan, the Award Plan, in any bonus plan in place, participation in any benefit plans in place and further provide for certain payments to be made where the executive is terminated without "just cause", without "good reason" or upon a "change of control". The Named Executive Officer may terminate his employment with Advantage for any reason upon thirty (30) days written notice.

 

If the executive is terminated without "just cause", without "good reason" or upon a "change of control", the agreements provide that in respect of Mr. Mah, he will be entitled to 1.5 times the executive's then annual salary (the "Retirement Allowance") plus an amount equal to 15% of the Retirement Allowance as well as 1.5 times the average cash bonus (if any) paid to the executive by the Corporation under the cash bonus plan during the prior two year period, in each case less the required withholdings or deductions. For Messrs. Bokenfohr and Blackwood, the entitlements are the same except that such executive officers are only entitled to one times the executive's then annual salary and one times the average cash bonus paid over the prior two years. In the event of a Change of Control, Performance Awards do not vest immediately and remaining outstanding Options vest immediately. The Board has recently focused more on the granting of Performance Awards to enhance the long-term alignment of such awards with key performance metrics and as such there are significantly fewer unvested Options currently outstanding. On a Change of Control, the Board may in its sole discretion determine to accelerate vesting of the Performance Awards and evaluate the Corporate Performance Measures after taking into consideration whether the executive’s employment or service relationship is or is to be terminated or such executive is constructively dismissed or offered to continue employment or service on terms that are not a material adverse change.

 

   

37

 

Estimated Incremental Compensation on

Termination Without "Just Cause", Without "Good Reason", or Upon a "Change of Control"

(based on hypothetical termination as at December 31, 2016 and assuming no withholdings or deductions)

 

   Compensation Components         
Name 

Retirement
Allowance

($)

   15% of
Retirement
Allowance
($)
   Bonus
($)
   Option
Vesting (1)
($)
   Performance
Awards
Vesting (2)
($)
   TOTAL
($)
 
                               
Andy Mah   589,050    88,358    712,500    3,183,680    3,144,612    7,718,200 
Neil Bokenfohr   280,000    42,000    312,500    3,007,676    2,099,114    5,741,290 
Craig Blackwood   270,000    40,500    252,500    1,593,345    1,917,836    4,074,181 

 

Notes:

 

(1)The Option vesting value was calculated based on the difference between the market price of the Shares at December 30, 2016, being $9.12 per Share and the exercise price of the Options.
(2)The Performance Awards vesting value was calculated by multiplying the number of Shares underlying the Performance Awards by the market price of the Shares at December 30, 2016, being $9.12 per Share, multiplied by a Payout Multiplier of one times.

 

INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

None of the directors, executive officers, employees, or former directors, officers or employees of the Corporation nor any of its associates or affiliates is now or has been indebted to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries since the commencement of the last completed fiscal year, nor is, or at any time since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year has, any indebtedness of any such person been subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE

 

National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices ("NI 58-101") requires reporting issuers to disclose their corporate governance practices with reference to a series of guidelines for effective corporate governance (the "Corporate Governance Guidelines") set forth in National Policy 58-201 – Corporate Governance Guidelines.

 

The Corporation has considered recent legislative changes, proposals and recommendations of the applicable regulatory authorities and the Canadian Securities Administrators in respect of corporate governance practices. The impact of National Instrument 52-110 in respect of audit committees, National Instrument 52-109 in respect of certification of disclosure on issuer's annual and interim filings, NI 51-101 in respect of standards of disclosure for oil and gas activities, National Instrument 51-102 in respect of continuous disclosure obligations and NI 58-101 and National Policy 58-201 providing guidance on corporate governance practices (the "Guidelines") have been considered.

 

As a foreign private issuer listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"), Advantage is not required to comply with most of the NYSE rules and listing standards and instead may comply with domestic Canadian requirements. Advantage is, however, required to comply with the following NYSE Rules: (i) Advantage must have an audit committee that satisfies the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) the Chief Executive Officer must promptly notify the NYSE in writing after an executive officer becomes aware of any non-compliance with the applicable NYSE Rules; (iii) Advantage must submit an executed section 303A annual written affirmation to the NYSE, as well as a Section 303A interim affirmation each time certain changes occur to the Audit Committee; and (iv) Advantage must annually provide a brief description of any significant differences between its corporate governance practices and those followed by U.S. domestic issuers under the NYSE listing standards. Advantage has reviewed the NYSE listing standards followed by U.S. domestic issuers listed under the NYSE and confirms that its corporate governance practices do not differ significantly from such standards.

 

Set out below is a description of the Corporation's corporate governance practices.

 

   

38

Director Independence

 

The Corporation currently has six directors, a majority of which are independent directors within the meaning of NI 58-101. Paul G. Haggis, Ronald A. McIntosh, Stephen E. Balog, Grant Fagerheim and Jill T. Angevine are all independent within the meaning of NI 58-101. Andy J. Mah is not independent as he is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee of the Board are all comprised entirely of independent directors. See also "Matters to be Acted Upon at the Meeting – Election of Directors".

 

On at least an annual basis, the Board conducts an analysis and makes a determination as to the "independence" of each member of the Board. The mandate of the Board is attached hereto as Schedule "A".

 

The independent directors hold regularly scheduled in camera sessions, without non-independent directors and members of management present either before or after each meeting of the Board and otherwise as required. During 2016, eight of such meetings were held.

 

The chair of the board (the "Chair"), Ronald A. McIntosh, is an independent director within the meaning of NI 58-101, and has the following role and responsibilities:

 

·when present, to preside at all meetings of the board and, unless otherwise determined by the directors, at all meetings of shareholders;

 

·endeavour to provide overall leadership to the board without limiting the principle of collective responsibility and the ability of the board to function as a unit;

 

·to the extent that is reasonably practicable, provide advice, counsel and mentorship to the Chief Executive Officer, committee Chairs, and fellow directors;

 

·responsible to ensure that board meetings function satisfactorily and that the tasks of the board are handled in the most reasonable fashion under the circumstances. In this connection, it is recommended that the Chair attempt to ensure that the individual director's particular knowledge and competence are used as best as possible in the board work for the benefit of the Corporation. The Chair shall endeavour to encourage full participation and discussion by individual directors, stimulate debate, facilitate consensus and ensure that clarity regarding decisions is reached and duly recorded;

 

·endeavour to ensure that the board's deliberations take place when all of the directors are present and, to the extent that is reasonably practicable, to ensure that all essential decisions are made when all of the directors are present;

 

·encourage Board members to ask questions and express view points during meetings;

 

·deal effectively with dissent and work constructively towards arriving at decisions and achieving consensus;

 

·endeavour to ensure that the independent members of the board meet in separate, regularly scheduled, non management closed sessions with internal personnel or outside advisors, as needed or appropriate;

 

·endeavour to establish a line of communication with a Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation to ensure that board meetings can be scheduled to deal with important business that arises outside of the regular quarterly meetings;

 

·endeavour to fulfill his or her board leadership responsibilities in a manner that will ensure that the board is able to function independently of management. The Chair shall consider, and provide for meetings of all of the independent directors without management being present. The Chair shall endeavour to ensure reasonable procedures are in place to allow for directors to engage outside advisors at the expense of the Corporation in appropriate circumstances, subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee;

 

   

39

 

·endeavour to ensure that the board meets at least four times annually and as many additional times as necessary to carry out its duties effectively and shall endeavour to ensure that the Shareholders meet at least once annually and as many additional times as required by law;

 

·with respect to meetings of directors or Shareholders, it is the duty of the Chair to enforce the Rules of Order. The Chair shall liaise with the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation to ensure that a proper notice and agenda has been disseminated, and that appropriate accommodations have been made for all board and Shareholder meetings and shall also liaise with the committee Chairs, other directors, the Chief Executive Officer and outside advisors, as appropriate, to establish the agenda for each board meeting;

 

·endeavor to:

 

oensure that the boundaries between the board and Management responsibilities are clearly understood and respected and that relationships between the board and Management are conducted in a professional and constructive manner;

 

ofacilitate effective communication between directors and Management, both inside and outside of board meetings;

 

oactively participate and oversee the administration of the annual evaluation of performance and effectiveness of the board, board Committees, all individual directors, committees chairs (other than the board Chair or any committee upon which the board Chair sits as the Chair) and Chief Executive Officer;

 

owhen appropriate, assist directors in their transition from the board and to support the orientation of new directors and the continuing education of current directors; and

 

oto ensure that an annual performance evaluation of the board Chair (and any committee upon which the Board Chair sits as the Chair) is conducted, soliciting input from all directors and appropriate members of Management and to carry out any other appropriate duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the board from time to time.

 

Other Board Committees and Position Descriptions

 

The Corporation has established the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee of the Board, each comprised entirely of independent directors. The Board has developed mandates for each of the Committees of the Board which detail the composition, duties and responsibilities of the Committees, as well as position descriptions for the Chair of each of the Committees. Certain information regarding the Audit Committee, including the mandate of the Audit Committee, is contained in the Corporation's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2016, an electronic copy of which is available on the Corporation's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and website at www.advantageog.com.

 

The Compensation Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to reviewing the effectiveness of the Board and its committees, developing and reviewing the Corporation's approach to corporate governance matters, and reviewing, developing and recommending to the Board for approval, procedures designed to ensure that the Board can function independently of management. See "Executive Compensation – Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Compensation Governance – Mandate of the Compensation Committee" in this Information Circular for a description of the mandate of the Compensation Committee.

 

The Independent Reserves Evaluation Committee of the Board is comprised of Mr. Stephen Balog (Chair), Mr. Ronald McIntosh, Mr. Paul Haggis and Mr. Grant Fagerheim, all of whom are independent directors. The Independent Reserve Evaluation Committee assists the Board in meeting its responsibilities to review the qualifications, experience, reserve evaluation approach and costs of the independent engineering firm that performs Advantage's reserve evaluation and to review the annual independent engineering report. The committee reviews and recommends for approval by the Board on an annual basis the statements of reserve data and other information specified in NI 51-101. The committee also reviews any other oil and gas reserve report prior to release by the Corporation to the public and reviews all of the disclosure in the annual information form of the Corporation related to the oil and gas activities of the Corporation.

 

   

40

 

The Board has developed a written position description for the CEO, the Chair and the chairman of each committee of the Board. See "Director Independence" above for a summary of the written position description for the Chair.

 

Compensation

 

The Corporation has a Compensation Committee comprised of only independent directors. The Compensation Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to reviewing the effectiveness of the Board and its committees; developing and reviewing the Corporation's approach to corporate governance matters; and reviewing, developing and recommending to the Board for approval, procedures designed to ensure that the board can function independently of management. See "Executive Compensation – Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Compensation Governance" in this Information Circular. The Compensation Committee annually conducts a review of directors' and officers' compensation having regard to the Corporation's peers, various governance reports on current trends in directors' compensation and independently complied compensation data for directors and officers of reporting issuers of comparative size to the Corporation.

 

Nomination of Directors

 

The Compensation Committee is comprised of entirely independent directors and is responsible for identifying new candidates for Board nomination having regard to the strengths and constitution of the Board members and their perception of the needs of the Corporation. The Compensation Committee has the authority to hire experts and advisors, including executive search firms, if deemed appropriate. See "Executive Compensation – Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Compensation Governance – Mandate of the Compensation Committee" in this Information Circular for a description of the mandate of the Compensation Committee.

 

Board Assessments

 

The effectiveness of the Board, its committees on the individual Board members is reviewed annually through a comprehensive self-assessment and inquiry questionnaire.

 

Director Term Limits

 

As discussed under "Matters to be Acted Upon at the Meeting – Appointment of Directors – Board Renewal" in this Information Circular, the Corporation has not adopted term limits for the directors or the Board or other mechanisms of Board renewal. The Compensation Committee and the Board recognize the benefit that new perspectives, ideas and business strategies can offer and support periodic Board renewal. The Compensation Committee and the Board also recognize that a director’s experience and knowledge of the Corporation's business is a valuable resource. Accordingly, the Board believes that the Corporation and its shareholders are better served with the regular assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, Board committees and the effectiveness and contribution of individual directors together with periodic Board renewal, rather than on arbitrary age and tenure limits.

 

Board and Management Diversity

 

The Corporation has adopted a written Board and Management diversity and renewal policy (the "Diversity Policy"), which provides that Board nominations and executive officer appointments should be made on the basis of the skills, knowledge, experience and character of individual candidates and the requirements of the Board and Management at the time. The Corporation is committed to a meritocracy and believes that considering the broadest group of individuals who have the skills, knowledge, experience and character required to provide the leadership needed to achieve the business objectives, without reference to their age, gender, race, ethnicity or religion, is in the best interests of the Corporation and all of its stakeholders. In accordance with the Diversity Policy, the Board encourages the consideration of women who have the necessary, skills, knowledge, experience and character for promotion or hiring into an executive officer position within the Corporation; however, the Board will not compromise the principles of a meritocracy by imposing quotas or targets.

 

   

41

 

To measure the effectiveness of the Diversity Policy, the Compensation Committee reviews annually the composition and diversity of the Board, including the process of identifying women candidates as potential nominees for Board positions to ensure that women candidates are being fairly considered relative to other candidates. The Compensation Committee will do a similar review of appointments of executive officer positions to ensure that women with the appropriate skills, knowledge, experience and character are being fairly considered as opportunities become available. The Compensation Committee will also review the number of women actually appointed and serving on the Board or in Management to evaluate whether it is desirable to adopt additional requirements or policies with respect to the diversity of the Board and Management.

 

While the Corporation has implemented the Diversity Policy and recognizes the benefits of diversity and believes that considering the broadest group of individuals who have the skills, knowledge, experience and character required to provide the leadership needed to achieve the business objectives of the Corporation is in the best interests of the Corporation and all of its stakeholders, the Corporation does not currently have any rules or formal policies that specifically require the identification, consideration, nomination or appointment of a targeted number of female Board nominees or candidates for executive management positions. In accordance with the Diversity Policy described above, the Board encourages the consideration of women who have the necessary, skills, knowledge, experience and character for promotion or hiring into an executive officer position within the Corporation; however, the Board will not compromise the principles of a meritocracy by imposing quotas or targets. Currently, Advantage does not have any women on its executive management team and 1 out of 6 or 16.7% of the directors of the Corporation are women.

 

Ethical Business Conduct

 

The Board has adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Code of Ethics for Senior Officers (collectively, the "Code"). All executives and employees are required to annually acknowledge understanding of the Code thereby confirming their ethical conduct. The Code is located on Advantage's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and is also available on Advantage’s website at www.advantageog.com.

 

The Board monitors compliance with the Code by requiring periodic reporting by its senior officers as to their compliance with the Code (and the Board requests immediate notification of any departures from the Code). The "whistleblower" policy, which is available on Advantage's website at www.advantageog.com, provides a procedure for the submission of information by any employee relating to possible violations of the Code.

 

The Corporation has not filed any material change reports since its inception that pertains to any conduct of a director or executive officer that constitutes a departure from the code of conduct.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

To address conflicts of interest, Board members and executive officers are required to declare the nature and extent of any material interest in any transactions or agreements and may not vote in relation to any such matter. In certain cases an independent committee may be formed to deliberate on such matters in the absence of the interested party.

 

Due to the fact that the Corporation has the Code, a reporting process pursuant to such Code, a Board Mandate and Terms of Reference for the Compensation Committee, the Corporation sees no need to implement additional procedures related to conflicts of interest at this time.

 

Orientation and Continuing Education of Directors

 

The Compensation Committee is responsible for the recruitment of new directors and ensuring adequate orientation in order for new directors to fully understand the roles and mandates of the Board and its committees. The Board provides new directors with access to all background documents of the Corporation, including all corporate records and prior board materials, and new Board members are offered access to all officers of the Corporation for orientation as to the nature and operations of Advantage's business.

 

   

42

 

All of Advantage's directors have significant experience in the oil and natural gas industry and the majority are members of professional organizations, which have continuing education standards that apply to their members. The Corporation will consider any request for it to pay for any education courses for any members of the Board relating to corporate governance, financial literacy or technical literacy. In addition, Management of the Corporation is available to members of the Board to discuss operational and other matters.

 

Succession Planning

 

The Board is responsible for succession planning and in particular, for choosing the Corporation's executive officers. The Compensation Committee reviews succession planning issues on a regular basis, including, specifically, succession planning in relation to the positions of the Named Executive Officers. In this regard, the Compensation Committee periodically discusses a succession plan for senior leadership positions that includes a description of the potential successors for such senior leadership positions in the organization. Such discussion identifies potential successors for each executive, as well as other senior positions in the organization, and highlights personal development areas that require enhancement in order for each candidate to be fully prepared for opportunities of higher responsibility. The Compensation Committee also periodically discusses any candidates who could assume critical leadership roles in the short term in the event an unexpected circumstance arises and an executive leaves a role earlier than anticipated. The Board or the Compensation Committee will meet with the CEO at least annually to review the performances of senior management in their current roles and discuss future capabilities and development plans for these individuals.

 

INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES
IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON

 

The Corporation is not aware of any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, of any director or executive officer since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year or nominee for director of the Corporation, or of any associate or affiliate of the foregoing, in respect of any matter to be acted on at the Meeting, other than the election of directors and the appointment of auditors.

 

INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS

 

Except as disclosed herein, since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year, none of the directors or executive officers of the Corporation or the proposed directors of the Corporation, or any person or company that will be the direct or indirect owner of, or will exercise control or direction of, more than 10% of any class or series of the Corporation's outstanding voting securities, or any associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing persons or companies, has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction or any proposed transaction that has materially affected or will materially affect the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Corporation knows of no amendment, variation or other matter to come before the Meeting other than the matters referred to in the Notice of Annual General and Special Meeting. However, if any other matter properly comes before the Meeting, the accompanying proxy will be voted on such matter in accordance with the best judgment of the person or persons voting the proxy.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Additional information respecting the Corporation is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Financial information respecting the Corporation is provided in the Corporation's comparative consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for its most recently completed financial year. Shareholders can access this information on SEDAR, on Advantage's website at www.advantageog.com or by request to the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation at the following address:

 

Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd.

Suite 300, 440 – 2nd Avenue S.W.

Calgary, Alberta T2P 5E9

 

  

 

 

SCHEDULE "A"
MANDATE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd.

 

The Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Corporation is responsible for the stewardship of the Corporation. In discharging its responsibility, the Board will exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances and will act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of Advantage. In general terms, the Board will endeavour to:

 

(a)define the principal objective(s) of the Corporation based upon the recommendations of the chief executive officer of the Corporation (the "CEO") and others deemed appropriate for such purpose;

 

(b)monitor the management of the business and affairs of Advantage with the goal of achieving Advantage's principal objective(s) as defined by the Board;

 

(c)discharge the duties imposed on the Board by applicable laws; and

 

(d)for the purpose of carrying out the foregoing responsibilities, take all such actions as the Board deems necessary or appropriate.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board will endeavor to perform the following duties.

 

Strategic Operating, Capital Plans and Financing Plans

 

·require the CEO to present annually to the Board a longer range strategic plan and a shorter range business plan for Advantage's business, which plans must

 

obe designed to achieve Advantage's principal objectives;

 

oidentify the principal strategic and operational opportunities and risk of Advantage's business; and

 

obe approved by the Board as a pre-condition to the implementation of such plans;

 

·review progress towards the achievement of the goals established in the strategic, operating and capital plans;

 

·review the principal risks of the Corporation's business identified by the CEO and review management's implementation of the appropriate systems to manage these risks;

 

·approve the annual operating and capital budgets and plans and subsequent revisions thereof;

 

·approve property acquisitions and dispositions in excess of $5 million;

 

·approve the establishment of credit facilities and borrowings; and

 

·approve issuances of additional shares or other securities to the public.

 

Monitoring and Acting

 

·monitor Advantage's progress towards its goals, and to revise and alter its direction through management in light of changing circumstances;

 

·monitor overall human resource policies and procedures, including compensation and succession planning;

 

 

  

 

 

·appoint the CEO and determine the terms of the CEO's employment with Advantage;

 

·approve the distribution policy of Advantage;

 

·review the systems implemented by management and the Board which are designed to maintain or enhance the integrity of Advantage's internal control and management information systems;

 

·monitor the "good corporate citizenship" of Advantage, including compliance by Advantage with all applicable environmental laws;

 

·in consultation with the CEO, establish the ethical standards to be observed by all officers and employees of Advantage and use reasonable efforts to ensure that a process is in place to monitor compliance with those standards;

 

·require that the CEO institute and monitor processes and systems designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws by Advantage and its officers and employees; and

 

·approve all matters relating to a takeover bid of Advantage.

 

Compliance Reporting and Corporate Communications

 

·review the procedures implemented by Management and the Board which are designed to ensure that the financial performance of Advantage is properly reported to shareholders, other security holders and regulators on a timely and regular basis;

 

·recommend to shareholders of Advantage a firm of chartered accountants to be appointed as Advantage's auditors;

 

·review the procedures designed and implemented by management and the independent auditors to ensure that the financial results are reported fairly and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

·review the procedures implemented by Management and the Board which are designed to ensure the timely reporting of any other developments that have a significant and material impact on the value of Advantage;

 

·review, consider and where required, approve, the reports required under National/Instrument 51 101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators;

 

·report annually to shareholders on the Board's stewardship for the preceding year; and

 

·where required, approve any policy designed to enable Advantage to communicate effectively with its shareholders and the public generally.

 

Governance

 

·in consultation with the Chairman of the Board, develop a position description for the Chairman of the Board;

 

·facilitate the continuity, effectiveness and independence of the Board by, amongst other things,

 

oselecting nominees for election to the Board;

 

oappointing a Chairman of the Board who is not a member of management;

 

  

 

 

oappointing from amongst the directors an audit committee and such other committees of the Board as the Board deems appropriate;

 

odefining the mandate or terms of reference of each committee of the Board;

 

oensuring that processes are in place and are utilized to assess the effectiveness of the Chairman of the Board, the Board as a whole, each committee of the Board and each director; and

 

oestablishing a system to enable any director to engage an outside adviser at the expense of Advantage; and

 

·review annually the adequacy and form of the compensation of directors.

 

Delegation

 

·The Board may delegate its duties to and receive reports and recommendations from any committee of the Board.

 

Composition

 

·A majority of Board members should be "independent" Directors as such term is defined in National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees and as defined in Section 303A.02 of the Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

 

·On at least an annual basis, the Board shall conduct an analysis and make a positive affirmation as to the "independence" of a majority of its Board members.

 

·Members should have or obtain sufficient knowledge of Advantage and the oil and gas business to assist in providing advice and counsel on relevant issues.

 

Meetings

 

·The Board shall meet at least four times per year and/or as deemed appropriate by the Board Chair.

 

·Minutes of each meeting shall be prepared by the Secretary to the Board.

 

·The Chief Executive Officer or his designate(s) may be present at all meetings of the Board.

 

·Vice-Presidents and such other staff as appropriate to provide information to the Board shall attend meetings at the invitation of the Board.

 

Reporting / Authority

 

·Following each meeting, the Secretary will promptly report to the Board by way of providing draft copies of the minutes of the meetings.

 

·Supporting schedules and information reviewed by the Board at any meeting shall be available for examination by any Director upon request to the Chief Executive Officer.

 

·The Board shall have the authority to review any corporate report or material and to investigate activity of the Corporation and to request any employees to cooperate as requested by the Board.

 

  

 

 

·The Board may retain persons having special expertise and/or obtain independent professional advice to assist in fulfilling its responsibilities at the expense of Advantage.

 

SCHEDULE "B"
OPTION-BASED AWARDS – STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd.

 

Option-Based Awards

 

Applicable Canadian securities legislation defines an "option-based award" as an award under an equity incentive plan of options, including share options, share appreciation rights and similar instruments that have option-like features.

 

The Option Plan provides for the grant of option-based awards to directors, officers and employees of, and consultants to the Corporation (collectively the "Optionees"). No Options were granted in 2016.

 

Stock Option Plan

 

Eligibility

 

The Option Plan provides for the granting of Options to purchase Common Shares to directors, officers and employees of, and consultants to the Corporation.

 

Administration

 

The Option Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee.

 

Limitations to the Option Plan

 

Unless otherwise approved by Shareholders, the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Options awarded under the Option Plan and all other share compensation arrangements of Advantage is 6.0% of the Common Shares outstanding from time to time.

 

If any Options granted under the Option Plan shall expire, terminate or be cancelled for any reason without having been exercised in full, any unpurchased Common Shares to which such Options relate shall be available for the purposes of the granting of further Options under the Option Plan.

 

In addition to the limit on the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Options awarded under the Option Plan:

 

(a)the number of Common Shares issued to any one person upon exercise of Options awarded under the Option Plan and all other established or proposed share compensation arrangements of Advantage shall not exceed 6.0% of the outstanding Common Shares;

 

(b)the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance at any time or issued within one year, pursuant to the Option Plan and all other established or proposed share compensation arrangements of Advantage, to Insiders (as defined in the applicable rules of the Exchange for this purpose) shall not exceed 6.0% of the outstanding Common Shares and the number of Common Shares issued within one year, pursuant to the Option Plan and all other established or proposed share compensation arrangements of Advantage, to any one Insider and such Insider's associates shall not exceed 6.0% of the outstanding Common Shares; and

 

  

 

 

(c)the participation of non-management directors in the Option Plan is limited to the lesser of: (a) 1.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, in aggregate, for all non-management directors; and (b) an annual equity award value for each non-management director of $100,000, with the value of each Option calculated at the time of grant. All Common Shares issued to non-management directors upon the exercise of Options under the Option Plan must be held by the particular non-management director until the earlier of: (a) three (3) years from the date of issuance of such Common Shares; and (b) the retirement from the Board of the non-management director.

 

In determining the number of Common Shares issued within one year, the number of Common Shares will be determined on the basis of the number of Common Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to the Common Share issuance, excluding any Common Shares issued pursuant to share compensation arrangements of Advantage over the preceding one-year period.

 

Vesting of Options

 

The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine the time during which Options shall vest and the method of vesting, or that no vesting restriction shall exist either before or after the date of grant.

 

Expiry Date

 

All Options granted pursuant to the Option Plan will expire on a date (the "Expiry Date") as determined by the Board at the time of the grant. In April, 2014, the Board approved an amendment to the Option Plan to provide that the Expiry Date of any new Options that are granted pursuant to the Option Plan cannot be more than five years from the time of the grant. In accordance with the Option Plan, approval of Shareholders was not required for the amendment. Any Options which have not been exercised by the Expiry Date shall expire and become null and void.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing:

 

(a)if the Expiry Date of any Option falls within:

 

(i)any Black-Out Period (as defined below) (the "Restricted Options"), then the Expiry Date of such Restricted Options shall, without any further action, be extended to the last day of the Black-Out Extension Term (as defined below); and

 

(ii)a period that an Optionee (other than an Insider) is on a Leave of Absence (as defined below), the Expiry Date shall, without any further action, be extended to the last day of the Leave Extension Term (as defined below).

 

The foregoing extensions apply to all Options whatever the date of grant and shall not be considered an extension of the term of the Options as referred to in the Option Plan. Unless approved by the Board, no Options may be exercised by an Optionee during a Black-Out Period;

 

(b)unless otherwise determined by the Board or unless otherwise expressly set forth in a Option Agreement (as defined below), pertaining to a particular Option or any written employment or consulting agreement governing an Optionee, if the Optionee ceases to be a director, officer or employee of Advantage for any reason whatsoever, other than the death or disability (as contemplated under (c) below), the Optionee may, prior to the Expiry Date and within 30 days after the Cessation Date (as defined below), exercise the Options which have vested on or prior to the Cessation Date, after which time the Option shall terminate; and

 

(c)unless otherwise determined by the Board or unless otherwise expressly set forth in a Option Agreement pertaining to a particular Option or any written employment or consulting agreement governing an Optionee, if the Optionee ceases to be a director, officer or employee of Advantage as a result of the death or disability of the Optionee, the Optionee or the Optionee's personal representative or estate may, prior to the Expiry Date and within six months after the Cessation Date, exercise the Options held by the Optionee which have vested during or prior to the six month period, after which time the Option shall terminate.

 

  

 

 

In the Option Plan, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

"Black-Out Extension Term" means ten (10) Business Days from the date that any Black-Out Period ends;

 

"Black-Out Period" means a period of time imposed by the Board pursuant to the Insider Trading and Disclosure Policy of Advantage upon certain designated persons during which those persons may not trade in any securities of Advantage;

 

"Cessation Date" means the date of the Optionee's termination of, or resignation from, active employment with Advantage, regardless of whether adequate or proper advance notice of termination or resignation shall have been provided in respect of such cessation of being. For greater certainty, a transfer of employment or services between Advantage and any of its subsidiaries or between any subsidiaries of Advantage shall not be considered an interruption or termination of the employment of an Optionee for any purpose of the Option Plan;

 

"Leave of Absence" means a period of time designated as a "leave of absence" by the Board which is in excess of three months; and

 

"Leave Extension Term" means that portion of the duration of the period of the Leave of Absence that is in excess of three (3) months plus ten (10) Business Days from the date that any Leave of Absence ends provided the Leave Extension Term shall not exceed one year from the Expiry Date.

 

Exercise Price

 

The exercise price (the "Exercise Price") of any Option granted pursuant to the Option Plan shall be fixed by the Board when the Option is granted, provided that such price shall not be less than the Market Price of the Common Shares on the date of the grant. "Market Price", on any date, shall be the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the Exchange for the five trading days prior to the date of grant (or, if the Common Shares are not then listed and posted for trading on the Exchange, such price as is required by such stock exchange in Canada on which such Common Shares are listed and posted for trading as may be selected for such purpose by the Board). In the event that the Common Shares are not listed and posted for trading on any stock exchange in Canada, the Exercise Price shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

 

Assignability

 

The right to receive Common Shares pursuant to an Option to an Optionee may only be exercised by such Optionee personally or through the Optionee's personal representative or estate and no assignment, sale, transfer, pledge or charge of a Option, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise (except by will or the laws of descent and distribution), vests any interest or right in such Option whatsoever in any assignee or transferee and, immediately upon any assignment, sale, transfer, pledge or charge or attempt to assign, sell, transfer, pledge or charge, such Option shall terminate and be of no further force or effect.

 

Exercise of Option

 

Subject to the Option Plan and the applicable Option Agreement, the Optionee may:

 

(a)exercise from time to time by delivery to Advantage, at its head office in Calgary, Alberta, a written notice of exercise ("Exercise Notice") specifying the number of Common Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price of the Common Shares then being purchased. Upon exercise of the Option, Advantage will, within 7 days following receipt of the Exercise Notice and payment of the purchase price, cause to be delivered to the Optionee a certificate or certificates, representing such Common Shares in the name of the Optionee or the Optionee's legal personal representative or otherwise as the Optionee may or representative may in writing direct; or

 

  

 

 

(b)exercise the right (the "Put Right") from time to time to require Advantage to purchase all or any part of the Options of the Optionee by delivery to Advantage, at its head office in Calgary, Alberta, a written notice of exercise ("Put Notice") specifying the number of Options with respect to which the Put Right is being exercised. Upon the exercise of the Put Right, Advantage will purchase from the Optionee all of the Options specified in the Put Notice at a purchase price (the "Purchase Price") equal to the excess of the closing price of the Common Shares on the immediately preceding date, determined on the date of receipt of the Put Notice by Advantage (the "Notice Date"), over the Exercise Price for each Option being purchased under the Put Right. Upon the exercise of the Put Right, Advantage will, at its sole election, cause to be delivered to the Optionee either: (A) a cheque or electronic deposit representing the Purchase Price; or (B) that number of Common Shares that represent a monetary value equal to the Purchase Price, within five business days of the Notice Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Advantage may at its sole discretion decline to accept the exercise of a Put Right at any time.

 

On April 24, 2015, the Option Plan was amended to provide that the Purchase Price is equal to the excess of the closing price of the Common Shares on the immediately preceding date over the Exercise Price for each Option being purchased under the Put Right. Previously, the Purchase Price was equal to the excess of the Current Market Price, being the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the Exchange for the five trading days prior to the Notice Date on which at least one board lot traded as reported by the Exchange, over the Exercise Price for each Option being purchased under the Put Right. In accordance with the amending provisions contained in the Option Plan described under "Amendment or Discontinuance of the Option Plan" below, such amendment was approved by the Board and approval of Shareholders was not required.

 

Effect of Certain Changes

 

In the event:

 

(a)of any change in the Common Shares through subdivision, consolidation, reclassification, amalgamation, merger or otherwise; or

 

(b)that, as a result of any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other transaction, the Common Shares are converted into or exchangeable for any other securities,

 

then, in any such case, the Board may make such adjustments to the Option Plan, to any Options and to any Option Agreements outstanding under the Option Plan as may be appropriate in the circumstances (including changing the Common Shares covered by each Option into other securities on the same basis as Common Shares are converted into or exchangeable for such securities in any such transaction) to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to Optionees hereunder.

 

Take-over Bids

 

If approved by the Board, Option Agreements may provide that, whenever Shareholders receive a take-over bid (as defined in the Securities Act (Alberta)), which is not exempt from the take-over bid requirements of Part 13 of the Securities Act (Alberta) (or its replacement or successor provisions) (a "Take-Over Proposal"), such Options may be exercised as to all or any of the Common Shares in respect of which such Option has not previously been exercised (including in respect of Common Shares not otherwise vested at such time) by the Optionee (the "Take-over Acceleration Right"), but any such Option not otherwise vested and deemed only to have vested in accordance with the foregoing may only be exercised for the purposes of tendering to such Take-Over Proposal. If for any reason any such Common Shares are not so tendered or, if tendered, are not, for any reason taken up and paid for by the offeree pursuant to the Take-Over Proposal, any such Common Shares so purchased by the Optionee shall be deemed to be cancelled and returned to the treasury of Advantage, and shall be added back to the number of Common Shares, if any, remaining unexercised under the Option (and shall thus be available for exercise of the Option in accordance with the terms thereof) and upon presentation to Advantage of share certificates representing such Common Shares properly endorsed for transfer back to Advantage, Advantage shall refund to the Optionee all consideration paid by him or her in the initial purchase thereof. The Take-over Acceleration Right shall commence at such time as is determined by the Board, provided that, if the Board approves the Take-over Acceleration Right but does not determine commencement and termination dates regarding same, the Take-over Acceleration Right shall commence on the date of the Take-over Proposal and end on the earlier of the expiry time of the Option and the tenth (10th) day following the expiry date of the Take-over Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Take-over Acceleration Right may be extended for such longer period as the Board may resolve.

 

  

 

 

Change of Control

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in the Option Plan and any Option Agreements, if there takes place a Change of Control, as defined below, at any time before the Expiry Date, Advantage shall give notice of such Change of Control to all Optionees. Each Optionee shall have the right, whether or not such notice is given to it by Advantage, to exercise all Options to purchase all of the Common Shares optioned to them (whether vested or unvested), which have not previously been purchased in accordance with the Option Plan and any Option Agreements. All Options not exercised prior to the effective date determined by the Board shall be deemed to have been cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect. If for any reason such Change of Control is not effected, any such Common Shares so purchased by an Optionee shall be, and be deemed to be, cancelled and returned to the treasury of Advantage, shall be added back to the number of Options, if any, remaining unexercised and upon presentation to Advantage of the Common Share certificates representing such Common Shares properly endorsed for transfer back to Advantage, Advantage shall refund the Optionee all consideration paid by the Optionee in the initial purchase thereof.

 

In the Option Plan, a "Change of Control" means:

 

(a)the acceptance and sale by the Shareholders representing in the aggregate more than fifty (50%) percent of all issued and outstanding Common Shares of any offer, whether by way of a takeover bid or otherwise, for all or any of the Common Shares; or

 

(b)the acquisition, by whatever means (including, without limitation, amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation or merger), by a person (or two or more persons who in such acquisition have acted jointly or in concert or intend to exercise jointly or in concert any voting rights attaching to the Common Shares), directly or indirectly, of the beneficial ownership of such number of Common Shares or rights to acquire Common Shares, which together with such person's then owned Common Shares or rights to acquire Common Shares, if any, represent (assuming the full exercise of such rights to acquire Common Shares) more than fifty (50%) percent of the combined voting rights of the Common Shares, together with the Common Shares that would be outstanding on the full exercise of the rights to acquire Common Shares and such person's previously owned rights to acquire Common Shares; or

 

(c)the closing of a transaction whereby Advantage merges, consolidates, amalgamates, is arranged or absorbed by or into another person, and as a result of such transaction, the Shareholders prior to the transaction, as the case may be, own directly or indirectly less than 50% of the equity of the entity resulting from the transaction; or

 

(d)the passing of a resolution by the Board, or Shareholders to substantially liquidate its assets or wind-up its business or significantly rearrange its affairs in one or more transactions or series of transactions or the commencement of proceedings for such a liquidation, winding-up or re-arrangement; or

 

(e)individuals who were members of the Board immediately prior to a meeting of the shareholders of Advantage involving a contest for the election of directors, shall not constitute a majority of the board of directors following such election; or

 

(f)the sale or disposition by Advantage of all or substantially all of its assets located at Glacier, Alberta, including any bona fide reorganization transaction pursuant to which the Shareholders exchange their Common Shares for the securities of one or more other entities, whether affiliated with Advantage or not.

 

  

 

 

Option Agreement

 

A written agreement will be entered into between Advantage and each Optionee to whom a Option is granted hereunder (a "Option Agreement"), which agreement will set out the number of Common Shares subject to option, the Exercise Price, the vesting dates, the Expiry Date and any other terms approved by the Board, all in accordance with the provisions of the Option Plan. The Option Agreement will be in the form of agreement as the Board may from time to time approve or authorize the officers of Advantage to enter into, and may contain such terms as may be considered necessary in order that the Option will comply with any provisions respecting Options in the income tax or other laws in force in any country or jurisdiction of which the person to whom the Option is granted may from time to time be a resident or citizen, or the rules of any regulatory body having jurisdiction over Advantage.

 

  

 

 

 

Amendment or Discontinuance of the Option Plan

 

The Option Plan and any Options granted pursuant to the Option Plan may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board without approval of the Shareholders, subject to any required approval of the Exchange.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option Plan or any Options may not be amended without shareholder approval to:

 

(a)increase the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance under the Option Plan or the Option Plan maximum as described under "Limitations to the Option Plan";

 

(b)reduce the Exercise Price of any Option granted pursuant to the Option Plan;

 

(c)extend the Expiry Date of any outstanding Options other than as permitted pursuant to the Option Plan;

 

(d)amend the limitations to the Option Plan to increase the entitlements of non-management directors under the Option Plan;

 

(e)permit an Optionee to transfer or assign Options to a new beneficial holder, other than for estate settlement purposes;

 

(f)any amendment to increase the number of Common Shares that may be issued to Insiders above the restrictions described under "Limitations to the Option Plan"; or

 

(g)amend this provision of the Option Plan.

 

In addition, no amendment to the Option Plan or Options granted pursuant to the Option Plan may be made without the consent of the Optionee, if it adversely alters or impairs the rights of any Optionee in respect of any Option previously granted to such Optionee under the Option Plan.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in the Option Plan, the Option Plan or any Options may not be amended without shareholder approval to cancel any Options and issue the holder of such Options a new option or other entitlement in replacement thereof or to amend this provision contained in the Option Plan.

 

  

 

 

SCHEDULE "C"
SHARE-BASED AWARDS – RESTRICTED AND PERFORMANCE AWARD INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd.

 

Share-Based Awards

 

Applicable Canadian securities legislation defines a "share-based award" as an award under an equity incentive plan of equity-based instruments that do not have option-like features, including common shares, restricted shares, restricted share units, deferred share units, phantom shares, phantom share units, common share equivalent units and stock.

 

The Award Plan grants share-based awards to Grantees (as defined below) and for the year ended December 31, 2016, Advantage granted Performance Awards to certain Service Providers.

 

Restricted and Performance Award Incentive Plan

 

On April 14, 2014, the Board approved the adoption by the Corporation of the Award Plan, as amended on April 24, 2015, which Award Plan was approved by Shareholders on May 27, 2015. The Award Plan allows the Board or the Compensation Committee to grant Performance Awards and/or Restricted Awards to Service Providers. Performance Awards granted under the Award Plan are meant to further align with shareholder interests as the magnitude of the Performance Awards received by Service Providers on the vesting date will be determined based on the achievement of various corporate performance measures during a multi-year period as set by the Board. The terms of the Award Plan provides that Performance Awards vest three years after the date of grant.

 

Eligibility and Grants of Incentive Awards

 

Incentive Awards may be granted only to Service Providers; provided, however, that the participation of a Service Provider in the Award Plan is voluntary. The Award Plan will be administered by the Board or the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has the authority in its sole discretion to administer the Award Plan and to exercise all the powers and authorities either specifically granted to it under the Award Plan or necessary or advisable in the administration of the Award Plan. In determining the Service Providers to whom Incentive Awards may be granted ("Grantees") and the number of Incentive Awards granted, the Compensation Committee may take into account such factors as it shall determine in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, compensation data for comparable benchmark positions among the group of public Canadian oil and gas issuers determined by the Compensation Committee, from time to time in their discretion (the "Peer Comparison Group"), the Corporate Performance Measures (as defined below) for the applicable period, and such other factors as the Compensation Committee shall deem relevant in its sole discretion in connection with accomplishing the purposes of the Award Plan.

 

For the purposes of the Award Plan, "Corporate Performance Measures" for any period that the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion shall determine, means the performance measures to be taken into consideration in granting Incentive Awards under the Award Plan and determining the Payout Multiplier determined by the Compensation Committee pursuant to the Award Plan in respect of any Performance Award, which may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the percentile rank, expressed as a whole number, of, with respect to any period, the Total Shareholder Return relative to returns calculated on a similar basis on securities of members of the Peer Comparison Group over the applicable period; (b) annual cash flow per Common Share; (c) absolute or relative cost structure; (d) capital efficiency; (e) key leading and lagging indicators of health, safety and environmental performance of the Corporation and the Advantage Affiliates; (f) the development and execution of the Corporation's strategic plan as determined by the Board; (g) reserves growth or reserves addition efficiencies; and (h) such additional measures as the Compensation Committee or the Board, in its sole discretion, shall consider appropriate in the circumstances.

 

  

 

 

Further, for the purposes of the Award Plan, "Fair Market Value" means, for so long as the Common Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSX (or, if the Common Shares are not then listed and posted for trading on the TSX or are then listed and posted for trading on more than one stock exchange, on such stock exchange on which the Common Shares are then listed and posted for trading), the volume weighted average of the prices at which the Common Shares traded on the said exchange for the five (5) trading days immediately preceding such date.

 

Limits on Issuance

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Award Plan:

 

(a)the maximum number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding Incentive Awards at any time is limited to 1.5% of the aggregate number of issued and outstanding Common Shares, provided that the maximum number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding Incentive Awards and all other security based compensation arrangements, cannot exceed 6.0% of the Common Shares outstanding from time to time;

 

(b)the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance to any one Service Provider under all security based compensation arrangements will not exceed 5.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares;

 

(c)the number of Common Shares issuable to insiders, at any time, under all security based compensation arrangements, cannot exceed 6.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares;

 

(d)the number of Common Shares issued to insiders, within any one year period, under all security based compensation arrangements, cannot exceed 6.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares; and

 

(e)the number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to Incentive Awards to non-management directors is limited to the lesser of: (a) 1.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, in aggregate, for all non-management directors; and (b) an annual equity award value for each non-management director of $100,000, with the value of each Incentive Award calculated at the Grant Date.

 

Restricted Awards

 

Subject to the provisions of the Award Plan, the Corporation shall pay to each Grantee an amount equal to the number of Incentive Awards (as such number may be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Award Plan) multiplied by the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares (the "Award Value") to which the Grantee is entitled pursuant to such Incentive Award, which amount shall be payable (each a "Payment Date"), unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, as to one-third of the Award Value underlying such Restricted Awards on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date of the Restricted Awards; provided that the Grantee remains in continuous employment or service with the Corporation or an Advantage Affiliate through the applicable Payment Date.

 

Performance Awards

 

Subject to the provisions of the Award Plan, with respect to any Performance Awards, the Payment Dates thereunder shall be the third anniversary of the grant date of the Performance Awards unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, provided that the Grantee remains in continuous employment or service with the Corporation or an Advantage Affiliate through the Payment Date.

 

Leave of Absence

 

Where a Grantee is on a Leave of Absence (as defined in the Award Plan), the Payment Date or Payment Dates for any Incentive Awards held by such Grantee shall be suspended until such time as such Grantee returns to active employment or active service, provided that where the period of the Leave of Absence exceeds three (3) months, a Payment Date for any Incentive Award that occurs during or subsequent to the period of the Leave of Absence shall be extended by, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends, if any, that are paid during, that portion of the Leave of Absence that exceeds three (3) months. Further, if any such extension would cause the Payment Date or Payment Dates to extend beyond December 31 of the third year following the year in which the Incentive Award was granted (the "Expiry Date"), the rights to receive payments on such Payment Date or Payment Dates will be forfeited by the Grantee.

 

  

 

 

Black Out Periods

 

Where a Payment Date occurs on a date when a Grantee is subject to a period of time imposed by the Board pursuant to the Insider Trading and Disclosure Policy of Advantage upon certain designated persons during which those persons may not trade in any securities of Advantage ("Black-Out Period"), such Payment Date shall be extended to a date which is within three business days following the end of such Black-Out Period, and further provided that if any such extension would cause the Payment Date or Payment Dates to extend beyond the Expiry Date, the amounts to be paid on such Payment Date or Payment Dates will be paid on the Expiry Date notwithstanding the Black-out Period.

 

Change of Control

 

In the event of an Change of Control (as defined in the Award Plan) prior to the Payment Dates determined in accordance with the Award Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion (including taking into consideration whether the Grantee's employment or service relationship is or is to be terminated or such Grantee is constructively dismissed or offered to continue employment or service with the successor entity on terms that are not a material adverse change in the Grantee's salary, title, lines of reporting, city or field work location), by Board resolution, determine to accelerate the Payment Date in respect of any Incentive Awards so designated by the Board.

 

Adjustments

 

Immediately prior to each Payment Date, the Award Value payable pursuant to the applicable Incentive Awards on such Payment Date shall be adjusted by multiplying the number of Incentive Awards for which payment remains to be made by the Adjustment Ratio (as defined in the Award Plan) applicable, if any, in respect of such Incentive Awards.

 

Acceleration of the Payment Date

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the Payment Date for all or any portion of previously granted Incentive Awards.

 

Determination of the Payout Multiplier

 

Prior to the Payment Date in respect of any Performance Award, the Compensation Committee will assess the performance of the Corporation for the applicable period. The individual measures, weighting of the individual measures comprising the Corporate Performance Measures shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion having regard to the principal purposes of the Award Plan and, upon the assessment of the Corporate Performance Measures, the Compensation Committee shall determine the Corporation's ranking. The applicable Payout Multiplier in respect of this ranking shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

 

Payment in Respect of Incentive Awards

 

On the Payment Date, the Corporation, at its sole and absolute discretion, shall have the option of settling the Award Value payable in respect of an Incentive Award by payment in cash, payment in Common Shares acquired by the Corporation on the TSX, or payment in Common Shares issued from treasury of the Corporation.

 

  

 

 

Termination of Relationship as Service Provider

 

Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee or unless otherwise provided in a written agreement between the Corporation and a Grantee (an "Incentive Award Agreement") pertaining to a particular Incentive Award or any written employment or consulting agreement governing a Grantee's role as a Service Provider:

 

(a)if a Grantee ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Grantee's death, the Payment Date for all Incentive Awards awarded to such Grantee under any outstanding Incentive Award Agreements shall be accelerated to the Cessation Date (as defined in the Award Plan), provided that the Compensation Committee, taking into consideration the performance of such Grantee and the performance of the Corporation since the date of grant of the Incentive Award, may determine in its sole discretion the Payout Multiplier to be applied to any Performance Awards held by the Grantee;

 

(b)if a Grantee ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of termination for cause, effective as of the Cessation Date all outstanding Incentive Award Agreements under which Incentive Awards have been made to such Grantee, whether Restricted Awards or Performance Awards, shall be immediately terminated and all rights to receive payments thereunder shall be forfeited by the Grantee;

 

(c)if a Grantee ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of a voluntary resignation, effective as of the day that is thirty (30) days after the Cessation Date, all outstanding Incentive Award Agreements under which Incentive Awards have been made to such Grantee, whether Restricted Awards or Performance Awards, shall be terminated and all rights to receive payments thereunder shall be forfeited by the Grantee; and

 

(d)if a Grantee ceases to be a Service Provider for any reason other than as provided for in (a), (b) and (c) above, effective as of the date that is sixty (60) days after the Cessation Date and notwithstanding any other severance entitlements or entitlement to notice or compensation in lieu thereof, all outstanding Incentive Award Agreements under which Incentive Awards have been made to such Grantee, whether Restricted Awards or Performance Awards, shall be terminated and all rights to receive payments thereunder shall be forfeited by the Grantee.

 

Transferability

 

Subject to the terms of the Award Plan, the right to receive payment pursuant to an Incentive Award granted to a Service Provider is held only by such Service Provider personally. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Plan, no assignment, sale, transfer, pledge or charge of an Incentive Award, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, vests any interest or right in such Incentive Award whatsoever in any assignee or transferee and, immediately upon any assignment, sale, transfer, pledge or charge or attempt to assign, sell, transfer, pledge or charge, such Incentive Award will terminate and be of no further force or effect.

 

Merger and Sale

 

If the Corporation enters into any transaction or series of transactions, other than a transaction that is a Change of Control and to which certain sections of the Award Plan apply, whereby the Corporation or all or substantially all of the Corporation's undertaking, property or assets become the property of any other trust, body corporate, partnership or other person (a "Successor") whether by way of take-over bid, acquisition, reorganization, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, transfer, sale or otherwise, then prior to or contemporaneously with the consummation of such transaction, the Corporation and the Successor shall execute such instruments and do such things as are necessary to establish that upon the consummation of such transaction the Successor will have assumed all the covenants and obligations of the Corporation under the Award Plan and the Incentive Award Agreements outstanding on consummation of such transaction in a manner that substantially preserves and does not impair the rights of the Grantees thereunder in any material respect, or, if the Incentive Awards (and the covenants and obligations of the Corporation under this Plan and the Incentive Award Agreements outstanding on consummation of such transaction) are not so assumed by the Successor, then the Payment Date for all Incentive Awards and underlying Award Value that has yet to be paid as of such time shall be the date which is immediately prior to the date upon which the transaction is consummated.

 

  

 

 

Amendments

 

The Compensation Committee may not, without the approval of the shareholders, make any amendments to: (a) increase the aggregate number or the percentage of Common Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Incentive Awards in excess of the limits contained in item (a) under "Limits on Issuance" above; (b) change any of the limitations on Incentive Awards contained in items (b), (c), (d) and (e) under "Limits on Issuance" above; (c) extend the Payment Date of any Incentive Awards issued under the Award Plan beyond the latest Payment Date specified in the Incentive Award Agreement (other than as permitted by the terms and conditions of the Award Plan) or extend the term beyond the original Expiry Date (other than as permitted by the terms and conditions of the Award Plan); (d) permit a Grantee to transfer or assign Incentive Awards to a new beneficial holder other than for estate settlement purposes; and (e) amend the amendment provisions of the Award Plan.

 

Except as restricted by the foregoing, the Compensation Committee may amend or discontinue the Award Plan or Incentive Awards granted thereunder at any time without Shareholder approval provided that any amendment to the Award Plan that requires approval of any stock exchange on which the Common Shares are listed for trading may not be made without approval of such stock exchange. In addition, no amendment to the Award Plan or Incentive Awards granted pursuant to the Award Plan may be made without the consent of the Grantee, if it adversely alters or impairs any Incentive Awards previously granted to such Grantee under the Award Plan.

 

  

 

 

SCHEDULE "D"
AMENDED BY-LAW

 

GENERAL BY-LAW

 

BY-LAW NO. 1

 

A BY-LAW RELATING GENERALLY TO THE CONDUCT OF THE AFFAIRS OF

 

ADVANTAGE OIL & GAS LTD.

 

(hereinafter called the "Corporation")

 

IT IS HEREBY ENACTED as a by-law of the Corporation as follows:

 

DIVISION One
INTERPRETATION

 

1.01In the by-laws of the Corporation, unless the context otherwise specifies or requires:

 

a."Act" means the Business Corporations Act of Alberta, as from time to time amended and every statute that may be substituted therefore and, in the case of such substitution, any references in the by-laws of the Corporation to provisions of the Act shall be read as references to the substituted provisions therefore in the new statute or statutes;

 

b."appoint" includes "elect" and vice versa;

 

c."articles" means the articles of incorporation or continuance of the Corporation, as from time to time amended or restated;

 

d."board" means the board of directors of the Corporation;

 

e."business day" means a day which is not a non-business day;

 

f."by-laws" means this by-law and all other by-laws of the Corporation from time to time in force and effect;

 

g."meeting of shareholders" includes an annual and a special meeting of shareholders;

 

h."non-business day" means Saturday, Sunday and any other day that is a holiday as from time to time defined in The Interpretation Act of Alberta;

 

i."Regulations" means the regulations under the Act as published or from time to time amended and every regulation that may be substituted therefore and, in the case of such substitution, any references in the by-laws of the Corporation to provisions of the Regulations shall be read as references to the substituted provisions therefore in the new regulations;

 

  

 

 

j."signing officer" means, in relation to any instrument, any person authorized to sign the same on behalf of the Corporation by virtue of section 3.01 of this by-law or by a resolution passed pursuant thereto; and

 

k."special meeting of shareholders" means a meeting of any particular class or classes of shareholders and a meeting of all shareholders entitled to vote at any annual meeting of shareholders at which special business is to be transacted.

 

Save as aforesaid, all terms which are contained in the by-laws of the Corporation and which are defined in the Act or the Regulations shall, unless the context otherwise specifies or requires, have the meanings given to such terms in the Act or the Regulations. Words importing the singular number include the plural and vice versa; the masculine shall include the feminine; and the word "person" shall include an individual, partnership, association, body corporate, body politic, trustee, executor, administrator and legal representative.

 

Headings used in the by-laws are inserted for reference purposes only and are not to be considered or taken into account in construing the terms or provisions thereof or to be deemed in any way to clarify, modify or explain the effect of any such terms or provisions.

 

DIVISION Two
BANKING AND SECURITIES

 

2.01Banking Arrangements

 

The banking business of the Corporation including, without limitation, the borrowing of money and the giving of security therefore, shall be transacted with such banks, trust companies or other bodies corporate or organizations or any other persons as may from time to time be designated by or under the authority of the board. Such banking business or any part thereof shall be transacted under such agreements, instructions and delegations of power as the board may from time to time prescribe or authorize.

 

2.02Voting Rights in Other Bodies Corporate

 

The signing officers of the Corporation may execute and deliver instruments of proxy and arrange for the issuance of voting certificates or other evidence of the right to exercise the voting rights attaching to any securities held by the Corporation. Such instruments, certificates or other evidence shall be in favour of such person or persons as may be determined by the officers executing such proxies or arranging for the issuance of such voting certificates or evidence of the right to exercise such voting rights. In addition, the board, or failing the board, the signing officers of the Corporation, may direct the manner in which and the person or persons by whom any particular voting rights or class of voting rights may or shall be exercised.

 

DIVISION Three
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS

 

3.01Authorized Signing Officers

 

Unless otherwise authorized by the board, deeds, transfers, assignments, contracts, obligations, certificates and other instruments may be signed on behalf of the Corporation by any two of the president, chairman of the board, managing director, any vice-president, any director, controller, corporate secretary, treasurer, any assistant corporate secretary or any assistant treasurer or any other officer created by by-law or by the board. In addition, the board may from time to time direct the manner in which and the person or persons by whom any particular instrument or class of instruments may or shall be signed. Any signing officer may affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring the same, but no instrument is invalid merely because the corporate seal is not affixed thereto.

 

  

 

 

3.02Cheques, Drafts and Notes

 

All cheques, drafts or orders for the payment of money and all notes and acceptances and bills of exchange shall be signed by such officer or person or persons, whether or not officers of the Corporation, and in such manner as the board may from time to time designate by resolution.

 

DIVISION Four
DIRECTORS

 

4.01Number

 

The board shall consist of such number of directors as is fixed by the articles, or where the articles specify a variable number, shall consist of such number of directors as is not less than the minimum nor more than the maximum number of directors provided in the articles and as shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the shareholders.

 

4.02Election and Term

 

Subject to the articles or a unanimous shareholder agreement, the election of directors shall take place at each annual meeting of shareholders and all of the directors then in office, unless elected for a longer period of time (not to exceed the close of the third (3rd) annual meeting of shareholders following election), shall retire but, if qualified, shall be eligible for re-election. The number of directors to be elected at any such meeting shall, subject to the articles or a unanimous shareholder agreement, be the number of directors then in office, or the number of directors whose terms of office expire at the meeting, as the case may be, except that, if cumulative voting is not required by the articles and the articles otherwise permit, the shareholders may resolve to elect some other number of directors. Where the shareholders adopt an amendment to the articles to increase the number or minimum number of directors, the shareholders may, at the meeting at which they adopt the amendment, elect the additional number of directors authorized by the amendment. If an election of directors is not held at the proper time, the incumbent directors shall continue in office until their successors are elected. If the articles provide for cumulative voting, each director elected by shareholders (but not directors elected or appointed by creditors or employees) ceases to hold office at the annual meeting and each shareholder entitled to vote at an election of directors has the right to cast a number of votes equal to the number of votes attached to the shares held by him multiplied by the number of directors he is entitled to vote for, and he may cast all such votes in favour of one candidate or distribute them among the candidates in any manner. If he has voted for more than one candidate without specifying the distribution among such candidate, he shall be deemed to have divided his votes equally among the candidates for whom he voted.

 

4.03Removal of Directors

 

Subject to the Act and the articles, the shareholders may by ordinary resolution passed at a special meeting remove any director from office, except a director elected by employees or creditors pursuant to the articles or a unanimous shareholder agreement, and the vacancy created by such removal may be filled at the same meeting, failing which it may be filled by the board. However, if the articles provide for cumulative voting, no director shall be removed pursuant to this section where the votes cast against the resolution for his removal would, if cumulatively voted at an election of the full board, be sufficient to elect one or more directors.

 

  

 

 

4.04Consent

 

A person who is elected or appointed a director is not a director unless:

 

a.he was present at the meeting when he was elected or appointed and did not refuse to act as a director, or

 

b.if he was not present at the meeting when he was elected or appointed:

 

i.he consented in writing to act as a director before his election or appointment or within ten (10) days after it, or

 

ii.he has acted as a director pursuant to the election or appointment.

 

4.05Vacation of Office

 

A director of the Corporation ceases to hold office when:

 

a.he dies or resigns;

 

b.he is removed in accordance with section 109 of the Act; or

 

c.he becomes disqualified under subsection 105(1) of the Act.

 

4.06Committee of Directors

 

The directors may appoint from among their number a managing director, who must be a resident Canadian, or a committee of directors, however designated, of which at least one-quarter of the members must be resident Canadians, and subject to section 115 of the Act may delegate to the managing director or such committee any of the powers of the directors. A committee may be comprised of one director.

 

4.07Transaction of Business of Committee

 

Subject to the provisions of this by-law with respect to participation in a meeting, the powers of a committee of directors may be exercised by a meeting at which a quorum is present or by resolution in writing signed by all of the members of such committee who would have been entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the committee. Meetings of such committee may be held at any place in or outside Alberta and may be called by any one member of the committee giving notice in accordance with the by-laws governing the calling of meetings of the board.

 

4.08Procedure

 

Unless otherwise determined herein or by the board, each committee shall have the power to fix its quorum at not less than a majority of its members, to elect its chairman and to regulate its procedure.

 

  

 

 

4.09Remuneration and Expenses

 

Subject to any unanimous shareholder agreement, the directors shall be paid such remuneration for their services as the board may from time to time determine. The directors shall also be entitled to be reimbursed for travelling and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending meetings of the board or any committee thereof. Nothing herein contained shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving remuneration therefor.

 

4.10Vacancies

 

Subject to the Act, a quorum of the board may fill a vacancy among the directors, except a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number or minimum number of directors or from a failure to elect the number or minimum number of directors required by the articles. If there is not a quorum of directors, or if there has been a failure to elect the number or minimum number of directors required by the articles, the directors then in office shall forthwith call a special meeting of shareholders to fill the vacancy and, if they fail to call a meeting or if there are no directors then in office, the meeting may be called by any shareholder.

 

4.11Action by the Board

 

Subject to any unanimous shareholder agreement, the board shall manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. Notwithstanding a vacancy among the directors, a quorum of directors may exercise all the powers of the directors. If the Corporation has only one director, that director may constitute a meeting.

 

DIVISION Five
MEETING OF DIRECTORS

 

5.01Place of Meeting

 

Meetings of the board may be held at any place within or outside Alberta.

 

5.02Notice of Meeting

 

Unless the board has made regulations otherwise, meetings of the board may be summoned on twenty-four (24) hours' notice, given verbally or in writing, and whether by means of telephone or telegraph, electronic means in accordance with the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Act, or any other means of communication. A notice of a meeting of directors need not specify the purpose of or the business to be transacted at the meeting except where the Act requires such purpose or business to be specified, including any proposal to:

 

a.submit to the shareholders any question or matter requiring approval of the shareholders;

 

b.fill a vacancy among the directors or in the office of auditor;

 

c.appoint additional directors;

 

d.issue securities, except in the manner and on the terms authorized by the board;

 

e.declare dividends;

 

  

 

 

f.purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares issued by the Corporation, except in the manner and on the terms authorized by the board;

 

g.pay a commission for the sale of shares;

 

h.approve a management proxy circular;

 

i.approve any financial statements to be placed before the shareholders at an annual meeting; or

 

j.adopt, amend or repeal by-laws.

 

Provided, however, that a director may in any manner, and either before or after the meeting, waive notice of a meeting and attendance of a director at a meeting of the board shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.

 

For the first meeting of the board to be held immediately following an election of directors no notice of such meeting shall be necessary, and for a meeting of the board at which a director is to be appointed to fill a vacancy in the board, no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected or appointed director or directors in order to legally constitute the meeting, provided, in each case, that a quorum of the directors is present.

 

5.03Adjourned Meeting

 

Notice of an adjourned meeting of the board is not required if the time and place of the adjourned meeting is announced at the original meeting.

 

5.04Calling of the Meetings

 

Meetings of the board shall be held from time to time at such time and at such place as the board, the chairman of the board, the managing director, the president or any two directors may determine. Should more than one of the above-named call a meeting at or for substantially the same time, there shall be only one meeting held and such meeting shall occur at the time and place determined by, in order of priority, the board, any two directors, the chairman, or the president.

 

5.05Regular Meetings

 

The board may, from time to time, appoint a day or days in any month or months for regular meetings of the board at a place and hour to be named. A copy of any resolution of the board fixing the place and time of such regular meetings shall be sent to each director forthwith after being passed, and forthwith to each director subsequently elected or appointed, but no other notice shall be required for any such regular meeting except where the Act or this by-law requires the purpose thereof or the business to be transacted thereat to be specified.

 

5.06Chairman

 

The chairman of any meeting of the board shall be the first mentioned of such of the following officers as have been appointed and who is a director and is present at the meeting: chairman of the board, managing director or president. If no such officer is present, the directors present shall choose one of their number to be chairman.

 

  

 

 

5.07Quorum

 

Subject to the following section 5.08, the quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the board shall consist of a majority of the directors holding office or such greater number of directors as the board may from time to time determine.

 

5.08One-Quarter Canadian Representation at Meetings

 

Directors shall not transact business at a meeting of directors unless at least one-quarter of the directors present are resident Canadians. Notwithstanding the foregoing, directors may transact business at a meeting of directors when less than one-quarter of the directors present are resident Canadians if:

 

a.a resident Canadian director who is unable to be present approves in writing or by electronic means, telephone or other communications facilities the business transacted at the meeting; and

 

b.the number of resident Canadian directors present at the meeting, together with any resident Canadian director who gives his approval under clause (a), totals at least one-quarter of the directors present at the meeting.

 

5.09Voting

 

Questions arising at any meeting of the board shall be decided by a majority of votes, and in the event of any equality of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.

 

5.10Participation in Meeting

 

A director may participate in a meeting of the board or a committee of the board by electronic means, telephone, or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to hear or otherwise communicate with each other, and a director participating in such meeting by such means is deemed to be present at the meeting.

 

5.11Resolution in Lieu of Meeting

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this by-law, a resolution in writing signed by all the directors entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the board or a committee of directors is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the board or committee of directors, as the case may be. A copy of every such resolution shall be kept with the minutes of the proceedings of the directors or committee of directors. Any such resolution in writing is effective for all purposes at such time as the resolution states regardless of when the resolution is signed and may be signed in counterpart.

 

5.12Amendments to the Act

 

It is hereby affirmed that the intention of sections 4.06, 5.08 and 7.03, as they relate to Canadian representation, is to comply with the minimum requirements of the Act and in the event that such minimum requirements shall be amended, deleted or replaced such that no, or lesser, requirements with respect to Canadian representation are then in force, such sections shall be deemed to be correspondingly amended, deleted or replaced without any further act of the directors or shareholders of the Corporation.

 

  

 

 

DIVISION Six
PROTECTION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS

 

6.01Conflict of Interest

 

A director or officer shall not be disqualified from his office, or be required to vacate his office, by reason only that he is a party to, or is a director or officer or has a material interest in any person who is a party to, a material contract or material transaction or proposed material contract or proposed material transaction with the Corporation or a subsidiary thereof. Such a director or officer shall, however, disclose the nature and extent of his interest in the contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction at the time and in the manner provided by the Act. Subject to the provisions of the Act, a director or officer shall not by reason only of his office be accountable to the Corporation or to its shareholders for any profit or gain realized from such a contract or transaction, and such contract or transaction shall not be void or voidable by reason only of the director's interest therein, provided that the required declaration and disclosure of interest is properly made, the contract or transaction is approved by the directors or shareholders, if necessary, and it was fair and reasonable to the Corporation at the time it was approved and, if required by the Act, the director refrains from voting as a director on the contract or transaction.

 

Even if the above conditions are not met, a director or officer acting honestly and in good faith shall not be accountable to the Corporation or to its shareholders for any profit realized from a material contract or material transaction for which disclosure is required by the Act, and such contract or transaction shall not be void or voidable by reason only of the director or officer's interest therein, provided that the material contract or material transaction was approved or confirmed by special resolution at a meeting of the shareholders, disclosure of the interest was made to the shareholders in a manner sufficient to indicate its nature before such contract or transaction was approved or confirmed, and such contract or transaction was reasonable and fair to the Corporation at the time it was approved or confirmed.

 

6.02Limitation of Liability

 

Every director and officer of the Corporation, in exercising his powers and discharging his duties, shall act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation and shall exercise the care, diligence and skills that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. Subject to the foregoing, no director or officer, for the time being of the Corporation, shall be liable for the acts, neglects or defaults of any other director or officer or employee or for joining in any act for conformity, or for any loss, damage or expense happening to the Corporation through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by the Corporation or for or on behalf of the Corporation or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the moneys of or belonging to the Corporation shall be placed out or invested or for any loss, conversion, misapplication or misappropriation of or any damage resulting for any dealings with any moneys, securities or other assets belonging to the Corporation or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortious acts of any person with whom any of the moneys, securities or effects of the Corporation shall be deposited, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which may happen in the execution of the duties of his respective office or trust or in relation thereto; provided that nothing herein shall relieve any director or officer from the duty to act in accordance with the Act and the Regulations thereunder or from liability for any breach thereof. The directors, for the time being of the Corporation, shall not be under any duty or responsibility in respect of any contract, act or transaction whether or not made, done or entered into in the name or on behalf of the Corporation, except such as shall have been submitted to and authorized or approved by the board.

 

  

 

 

No act or proceeding of any director or officer or the board shall be deemed invalid or ineffective by reason of the subsequent ascertainment of any irregularity in regard to such act or proceeding or the election, appointment or qualification of such director or officer or board.

 

6.03Indemnity

 

Subject to section 124 of the Act, the Corporation shall indemnify a director or officer of the Corporation, a former director or officer of the Corporation or a person who acts or acted at the Corporation's request as a director or officer of a body corporate of which the Corporation is or was a shareholder or creditor, and his heirs and legal representatives, against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by him in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of the Corporation or body corporate, if:

 

a.he acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation; and

 

b.in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, he had reasonable grounds for believing that his conduct was lawful.

 

The Corporation shall also indemnify such persons in such other circumstances as the Act permits or requires. Nothing herein contained shall limit the right of any person entitled to indemnity to claim indemnity apart from the provisions of this section 6.03.

 

6.04Insurance

 

The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person referred to in section 6.03 against any liability incurred by him:

 

a.in his capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, except where the liability relates to his failure to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation; or

 

b.in his capacity as a director or officer of the another body corporate where he acts or acted in that capacity at the Corporation's request, except where the liability relates to his failure to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the body corporate.

 

DIVISION Seven
OFFICERS

 

7.01Election or Appointment

 

Subject to any unanimous shareholder agreement, the board may, from time to time, appoint a chairman of the board, a president, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary, a treasurer and such other officers as the board may determine, including one or more assistants to any of the officers so appointed. The board may specify the duties of and, in accordance with this by-law and subject to the provisions of the Act, delegate to such officers powers to manage the business and affairs of the Corporation. Except for a managing director and a chairman of the board who must be directors, an officer may, but need not be, a director and one person may hold more than one office.

 

  

 

 

7.02Chairman of the Board

 

The chairman of the board shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the board, committees of directors and at all meetings of shareholders.

 

If no managing director is appointed, the board may assign to the chairman of the board any of the powers and duties that, by any provision of this by-law, are assigned to the managing director; and he shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, have such other powers and duties as the board may specify. During the absence or disability of the chairman of the board, his duties shall be performed and his powers exercised by the managing director, if any, or by the president.

 

7.03Managing Director

 

The managing director, if any, shall be a resident Canadian and shall have, subject to the authority of the board, general supervision of the business and affairs of the Corporation; and he shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, have such other powers and duties as the board may specify.

 

7.04President

 

The president shall, subject to the authority of the board and the managing director, if any, have such powers and duties as the board may specify. During the absence or disability of the managing director, or if no managing director has been appointed, the president shall also have the powers and duties of that office; provided, however, that unless he is a director he shall not preside as chairman at any meeting of the board or of a committee of directors.

 

7.05Vice-President

 

During the absence or disability of the president, his duties shall be performed and his powers exercised by the vice-president or, if there is more than one, by the vice-president designated from time to time by the board or the president; provided, however, that a vice-president who is not a director shall not preside as chairman at any meeting of the board or of a committee of directors. A vice-president shall have such other powers and duties as the board or the president may prescribe.

 

7.06Secretary

 

The secretary shall attend and be the secretary of all meetings of the board, shareholders and committees of directors and shall enter or cause to be entered in records kept for that purpose minutes of all proceedings thereat; he shall give or cause to be given, as and when instructed, all notices to shareholders, directors, officers, auditors and members of committees of the board; he shall be the custodian of the stamp or mechanical device generally used for affixing the corporate seal of the Corporation and of all books, papers, records, documents and instruments belonging to the Corporation, except when some other officer or agent has been appointed for that purpose; and he shall have such other powers and duties as the board or the chief executive officer, if any, may specify.

 

7.07Treasurer

 

The treasurer shall keep proper accounting records in compliance with the Act and shall be responsible for the deposit of money, the safekeeping of securities and the disbursement of the funds of the Corporation; he shall render to the board whenever required an account of all his transactions and he shall have such other powers and duties as the board or chief executive officer, if any, or the president may specify.

 

  

 

 

7.08General Manager or Manager

 

If elected or appointed, the general manager shall have, subject to the authority of the board, the managing director, if any, the chief executive officer, if any, and the president, full power to manage and direct the business and affairs of the Corporation (except such matters and duties as by law must be transacted or performed by the board and/or by the shareholders) and to employ and discharge agents and employees of the Corporation and may delegate to him or them any lesser authority. A general manager or manager shall conform to all lawful orders given to him by the board and shall at all reasonable times give to the directors or any of them all information they may require regarding the affairs of the Corporation. Any agent or employee appointed by a general manager or manager shall be subject to discharge by the board.

 

7.09Powers and Duties of Other Officers

 

The powers and duties of all other officers shall be such as the terms of their engagement call for or as the board, the managing director, if any, or the chief executive officer, if any, or the president may specify. Any of the powers and duties of an officer to whom an assistant has been appointed may be exercised and performed by such assistant, unless the board or the chief executive officer, if any, or the president otherwise directs.

 

7.10Variation of Powers and Duties

 

The board may from time to time and subject to the provisions of the Act, vary, add to or limit the powers and duties of any officer.

 

7.11Vacancies

 

If the office of any officer of the Corporation shall be or become vacant by reason of death, resignation, disqualification or otherwise, the board, by resolution, may appoint a person to fill such vacancy.

 

7.12Remuneration and Removal

 

The remuneration of all officers appointed by the board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the board. The fact that any officer or employee is a director or shareholder of the Corporation shall not disqualify him from receiving such remuneration as may be determined. All officers shall be subject to removal by resolution of the board at any time, with or without cause, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, provided however that this right of removal shall not limit in any way such officer's right to damages by virtue of such agreement or any other rights resulting from such removal in law or equity.

 

7.13Agents and Attorneys

 

The Corporation, by or under the authority of the board, shall have power from time to time to appoint agents or attorneys for the Corporation in or outside Canada with such powers (including the power to sub-delegate) of management, administration or otherwise as may be thought fit.

 

  

 

 

7.14Conflict of Interest

 

An officer shall disclose his interest in any material contract or material transaction or proposed material contract or proposed material transaction with the Corporation in accordance with section 6.01.

 

7.15Fidelity Bonds

 

The board may require such officers, employees and agent of the Corporation, as the board deems advisable, to furnish bonds for the faithful discharge of their powers and duties, in such forms and with such surety as the board may from time to time determine.

 

DIVISION Eight
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS

 

8.01Annual Meetings

 

Subject to the Act, the annual meeting of shareholders shall be held at such time and on such day in each year and at such place or places as the board, the chairman of the board, the managing director or the president may from time to time determine, for the purpose of considering the financial statements and reports required by the Act to be placed before the annual meeting, electing directors, appointing auditors if required by the Act or the articles, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

 

8.02Special Meetings

 

The board shall have the power to call a special meeting of shareholders at any time.

 

8.03Place of Meetings

 

Meetings of shareholders shall be held as provided for in the articles, or failing any reference in the articles, at such place in Alberta as the board may determine. Subject to the Act, if the directors or the shareholders of the Corporation call a meeting of shareholders, the directors or the shareholders, as the case may be, may determine that the meeting shall be held entirely by electronic means, telephone or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting.

 

8.04Record Date for Notice

 

The board may fix in advance a date, preceding the date of any meeting of shareholders by not more than fifty (50) days and not less than twenty-one (21) days, as a record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at the meeting. If no record date is fixed, the record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to receive notice of or to vote at the meeting shall be the close of business on the date immediately preceding the day on which the notice is given or, if no notice is given, the day on which the meeting is held.

 

  

 

 

8.05Notice of Meeting

 

Notice of the time and place of each meeting of shareholders shall be sent not less than twenty-one (21) days and not more than fifty (50) days before the meeting to each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting, each director and the auditor of the Corporation. Such notice may be sent by electronic means in accordance with the Electronic Transactions Act, or by mail addressed to, or may be delivered personally to, the shareholder, at his latest address as shown in the records of the Corporation or its transfer agent, to the director, at his latest address as shown in the records of the Corporation or in the last notice filed pursuant to section 106 or 113 of the Act, or to the auditor, at his most recent address as shown in the records of the Corporation. A notice of meeting of shareholders sent by mail to a shareholder, director or auditor in accordance with the above is deemed to be served on the day on which it was deposited in the mail. A notice of a meeting is not required to be sent to shareholders who are not registered on the records of the Corporation or its transfer agent on the record date as determined according to section 8.04 hereof. Notice of a meeting of shareholders at which special business is to be transacted shall state the nature of such business in sufficient detail to permit the shareholder to form a reasoned judgment thereon and shall state the text of any special resolution to be submitted to the meeting. A special meeting and an annual meeting may be convened by one and the same notice and it shall not be an objection to the notice that it only convenes the second meeting contingently on any resolution being passed by the requisite majority at the first meeting.

 

8.06Right to Vote

 

Subject to the provisions of the Act as to authorized representatives of any other body corporate, at any meeting of shareholders in respect of which the Corporation has prepared the list referred to in section 8.07 hereof, every person who is named in such list shall be entitled to vote the shares shown thereon opposite his name except to the extent that such person has transferred any of his shares after the record date set pursuant to section 8.04 hereof, or, if no record date is fixed, after the date on which the list referred to in section 8.07 is prepared, and the transferee, upon producing properly endorsed certificates evidencing such shares or otherwise establishing that he owns such shares, demands not later than ten (10) days before the meeting that his name be included to vote the transferred shares at the meeting. In the absence of a list prepared as aforesaid in respect of a meeting of shareholders, every person shall be entitled to vote at the meeting who at the close of business on the record date, or if no record date is set, at the close of business on the date preceding the date notice is sent, is entered in the securities register as the holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at such meeting.

 

8.07List of Shareholders Entitled to Notice

 

The Corporation shall prepare a list of shareholders entitled to receive notice of a meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the number of shares held by each shareholder in accordance with section 137 of the Act. If a record date for the meeting is fixed pursuant to section 8.04 hereof by the board, the shareholders listed shall be those registered at the close of business on the record date. If no record date is fixed by the board, the shareholders listed shall be those listed at the close of business on the last business day immediately preceding the day on which notice of a meeting is given, or where no such notice is given, the day on which the meeting is held. The list shall be available for examination by any shareholder during usual business hours at the registered office of the Corporation or at the place where its central securities register is maintained and at the place where the meeting is held.

 

8.08Meetings Without Notice

 

A meeting of shareholders may be held without notice at any time and place permitted by the Act:

 

a.if all the shareholders entitled to vote thereat are present in person or represented by proxy or if those not present or represented by proxy waive notice of or otherwise consent to such meeting being held; and

 

  

 

 

b.if the auditors and the directors are present or waive notice of or otherwise consent to such meeting being held.

 

At such meetings any business may be transacted which the Corporation at a meeting of shareholders may transact. If the meeting is held at a place outside Canada, shareholders not present or represented by proxy, but who have waived notice of or otherwise consented to such meeting, shall also be deemed to have consented to a meeting being held at such place.

 

8.09Waiver of Notice

 

A shareholder and any other person entitled to attend a meeting of shareholders may in any manner waive notice of a meeting of shareholders and attendance of any such person at a meeting of shareholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.

 

8.10Chairman, Secretary and Scrutineers

 

The chairman of the board or, in his absence, the president, if such an officer has been elected or appointed and is present, or otherwise a vice-president who is a shareholder of the Corporation, shall be chairman of any meeting of shareholders. If no such officer is present within fifteen (15) minutes from the time fixed for holding the meeting, or declines to be chairman of the meeting, the persons present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to be chairman. If the secretary of the Corporation is absent, the chairman shall appoint some person, who need not be a shareholder, to act as secretary of the meeting. If desired, one or more scrutineers, who need not be shareholders, may be appointed by a resolution or by the chairman with the consent of the meeting.

 

8.11Persons Entitled to be Present

 

The only persons entitled to be present at a meeting of shareholders shall be those entitled to vote thereat, the directors and auditors of the Corporation and others who, although not entitled to vote, are entitled or required under any provision of the Act or the articles or by-laws to be present at the meeting. Any other person may be admitted only on the invitation of the chairman of the meeting or with the consent of the meeting.

 

8.12Quorum

 

A quorum at any meeting of shareholders (unless a greater number of persons are required to be present or a greater number of shares are required to be represented by the Act or by the articles or by any other by-law) shall be persons present not being less than two (2) in number and holding or representing not less than twenty-five (25%) per cent of the shares entitled to be voted at the meeting. If a quorum is present at the opening of any meeting of shareholders, the shareholders present or represented may proceed with the business of the meeting notwithstanding that a quorum is not present throughout the meeting. If a quorum is not present at the opening of the meeting of shareholders, the shareholders present or represented may adjourn the meeting to a fixed time and place but may not transact any other business.

 

8.13Participation in Meeting

 

A shareholder or any other person entitled to attend a meeting may participate in a meeting of shareholders by electronic means, telephone or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to hear or otherwise communicate with each other, and a person participating in such a meeting by such means is deemed to be present at the meeting. Subject to the Act, any person participating in a meeting pursuant to this section and entitled to vote at the meeting may vote by electronic means, telephone or other communication facility that the Corporation has made available for that purpose.

 

  

 

 

8.14Proxyholders and Representatives

 

Votes at meetings of the shareholders may be given either personally or by proxy; or, in the case of a shareholder, who is a body corporate or association, by an individual authorized by a resolution of the board or governing body of the body corporate or association to represent it at a meeting of shareholders of the Corporation, upon producing a certified copy of such resolution or otherwise establishing his authority to vote to the satisfaction of the secretary or the chairman.

 

A proxy shall be executed by the shareholder or his attorney authorized in writing or, if the shareholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal or by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized, and is valid only at the meeting in respect of which it is given or any adjournment of that meeting. A person appointed by proxy need not be a shareholder.

 

8.15Time for Deposit of Proxies

 

The board may specify in a notice calling a meeting of shareholders a time, preceding the time of such meeting by not more than forty-eight (48) hours exclusive of Saturdays and holidays, before which time proxies to be used at such meeting must be deposited. A proxy shall be acted upon only if, prior to the time so specified, it shall have been deposited with the Corporation or an agent thereof specified in such notice or, if no such time having been specified in such notice, it has been received by the secretary of the Corporation or by the chairman of the meeting or any adjournment thereof prior to the time of voting.

 

8.16Joint Shareholders

 

If two or more persons hold shares jointly, any one of them present in person or duly represented at a meeting of shareholder may, in the absence of the other or others, vote the shares; but if two or more of those persons are present in person or represented and vote, they shall vote as one the shares jointly held by them.

 

8.17Votes to Govern

 

Except as otherwise required by the Act, all questions proposed for the consideration of shareholders at a meeting of shareholders shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast and in the event of an equality of votes at any meeting of shareholders, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

 

8.18Conduct of Vote

 

Subject to the Act, voting at a meeting of shareholders shall be by a show of hands, unless a ballot is required or demanded as hereinafter provided, and may be held, subject to the Act, entirely by electronic means, telephone or other communication facility, if the corporation makes such a communication facility available. Every person who is present or otherwise participating in the meeting pursuant to section 8.13 hereof and entitled to vote shall have one vote. Whenever a vote shall have been taken upon a question, unless a ballot thereon is so required or demanded, a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that the vote upon the question has been carried or carried by a particular majority or defeated and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be prima facie evidence of the fact without proof of the number of the votes recorded in favour of or against any resolution or other proceeding in respect of the said question, and the result of the vote so taken shall be the decision of shareholders upon the said question.

 

  

 

 

8.19Ballots

 

On any question proposed for consideration at a meeting of shareholders, a shareholder, proxyholder or other person entitled to vote may demand and the chairman may require that a ballot be taken either before or upon the declaration of the result of any vote. If a ballot is demanded on the election of a chairman or on the question of an adjournment it shall be taken forthwith without an adjournment. A ballot demanded or required on any other question shall be taken in such manner as the chairman shall direct. A demand or requirement for a ballot may be withdrawn at any time prior to the taking of the ballot. If a ballot is taken each person present shall be entitled, in respect of the shares that he is entitled to vote at the meeting upon the question, to the number of votes as provided for by the articles or, in the absence of such provision in the articles, to one vote for each share he is entitled to vote. The result of the ballot so taken shall be the decision of the shareholders upon the question. The demand or requirement for a ballot shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the ballot has been demanded or required.

 

8.20Adjournment

 

The chairman at a meeting of shareholders may, with the consent of the meeting and subject to such conditions as the meeting may decide, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place. If a meeting of shareholders is adjourned for less than thirty (30) days, it shall not be necessary to give notice of the adjourned meeting, other than by announcement at the time of the adjournment. Subject to the Act, if a meeting of shareholders is adjourned by one or more adjournments for an aggregate of thirty (30) days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in the same manner as notice for an original meeting but, unless the meeting is adjourned by one or more adjournments for an aggregate of more than ninety (90) day, subsection 149(1) of the Act does not apply.

 

8.21Resolution in Lieu of a Meeting

 

A resolution in writing signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of shareholders is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the shareholders; and a resolution in writing dealing with all matters required to be dealt with at a meeting of shareholders and signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, satisfies all the requirements of the Act relating to meetings of shareholders. A copy of every such resolution in writing shall be kept with minutes of the meetings of shareholders. Any such resolution in writing is effective for all purposes at such time as the resolution states regardless of when the resolution is signed and may be signed in counterpart.

 

8.22Only One Shareholder

 

Where the Corporation has only one shareholder or only one holder of any class or series of shares, the shareholder present in person or duly represented constitutes a meeting.

 

  

 

 

DIVISION Nine
SHARES

 

9.01Non-Recognition of Trusts

 

Subject to the Act, the Corporation may treat the registered holder of any share as the person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notices, to receive any dividend or other payment in respect of the share, and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner of the share.

 

9.02Certificates

 

The shareholder is entitled at his option to a share certificate that complies with the Act or a non-transferable written acknowledgement of his right to obtain a share certificate from the Corporation in respect of the securities of the Corporation held by him. Share certificates and acknowledgements of a shareholder's right to a share certificate, respectively, shall be in such form as described by the Act and as the board shall from time to time approve. A share certificate shall be signed manually by at least one director or officer of the Corporation or by or on behalf of a registrar, transfer agent or branch transfer agent of the Corporation, or by a trustee who certifies it in accordance with a trust indenture, and any additional signatures required on the share certificate may be printed or otherwise mechanically reproduced on it.

 

9.03Replacement of Share Certificates

 

The board or any officer or agent designated by the board may in its or his discretion direct the issuance of a new share certificate or other such certificate in lieu of and upon cancellation of a certificate that has been mutilated or in substitution for a certificate claimed to have been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken on payment of such reasonable fee and on such terms as to indemnity, reimbursement of expenses and evidence of loss and of title as the board may from time to time prescribe, whether generally or in any particular case.

 

9.04Joint Holders

 

The Corporation is not required to issue more than one share certificate in respect of a share held jointly by several persons, and delivery of a certificate to one of several joint holders is sufficient delivery to all. Any one of such holders may give effectual receipts for the certificate issued in respect thereof or for any dividend, bonus, return of capital or other money payable or warrant issuable in respect of such certificate.

 

DIVISION Ten
TRANSFER OF SECURITIES

 

10.01Registration of Transfer

 

If a share in registered form is presented for registration of transfer, the Corporation shall register the transfer if:

 

a.the share is endorsed by an appropriate person, as defined in the Securities Transfer Act (Alberta);

 

b.reasonable assurance is given that the endorsement is genuine and effective;

 

c.the Corporation has no duty to enquire into adverse claims or has discharged any such duty;

 

  

 

 

d.any applicable law relating to the collection of taxes has been complied with;

 

e.the transfer is rightful or is to a bona fide purchaser; and

 

f.the transfer fee, if any, has been paid.

 

10.02Transfer Agents and Registrar

 

The board may from time to time by resolution appoint or remove one or more trust companies registered under the Trust Companies Act as its agent or agents to maintain a central securities register or registers, and an agent or agents to maintain a branch securities register or registers. Agents so appointed may be designated as transfer agent or registrar according to their functions, and a person may be appointed and designated with functions as both registrar and transfer or branch transfer agent. Registration of the issuance or transfer of a security in the central securities register or in a branch securities register is complete and valid registration for all purposes.

 

10.03Securities Registers

 

A central securities register of the Corporation shall be kept at its registered office or at any other place in Alberta designated by the board to record the shares and other securities issued by the Corporation in registered form, showing with respect to each class or series of shares and other securities:

 

a.the names, alphabetically arranged, and the latest known address of each person who is or has been a holder;

 

b.the number of shares or other securities held by each holder; and

 

c.the date and particulars of the issuance and transfer of each share or other security.

 

A branch securities register or registers may be kept either in or outside Alberta at such place or places as the board may determine. A branch securities register shall only contain particulars of securities issued or transferred at that branch. Particulars of each issue or transfer of a security registered in a branch securities register shall also be kept in the corresponding central securities register.

 

10.04Deceased Shareholders

 

In the event of the death of a holder, or of one of the joint holders, of any share, the Corporation shall not be required to make any entry in the securities register in respect thereof or to make any dividend or other payments in respect thereof except upon production of all such documents as may be required by law and upon compliance with the reasonable requirements of the Corporation and its transfer agents.

 

DIVISION Eleven
DIVIDENDS AND RIGHTS

 

11.01Dividends

 

Subject to the Act, the board may from time to time declare dividends payable to the shareholders according to their respective rights and interest in the Corporation. Dividends may be paid in money or property or by issuing fully-paid shares of the Corporation.

 

  

 

 

11.02Dividend Cheques

 

A dividend payable in money shall be paid by cheque to the order of each registered holder of shares of the class or series in respect of which it has been declared and shall be mailed by prepaid ordinary mail to such registered holder at his address recorded in the Corporation's securities register or registers or such address as such holder otherwise directs. In the case of joint holders the cheque shall, unless such joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of all such joint holders and mailed to them at their recorded address. The mailing of such cheque as aforesaid, unless the same is not paid on due presentation, shall satisfy and discharge the liability for the dividend to the extent of the sum represented thereby plus the amount of any tax which the Corporation is required to and does withhold.

 

11.03Non-Receipt of Cheques

 

In the event of non-receipt of any dividend cheque by the person to whom it is sent as aforesaid, the Corporation shall issue to such person a replacement cheque for a like amount on such terms as to indemnity, reimbursement of expenses and evidence of non-receipt and of title as the board may from time to time prescribe, whether generally or in any particular case.

 

11.04Unclaimed Dividends

 

No dividend shall bear interest against the Corporation. Any dividend unclaimed after a period of six (6) years from the date on which the same has been declared to be payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Corporation.

 

11.05Record Date for Dividends and Rights

 

The board may fix in advance a date, preceding by not more than fifty (50) days the date for the payment of any dividend, as a record date for the determination of the persons entitled to receive payment of such dividend, provided that, unless waived as provided for in the Act, notice of any such record date is given, not less than seven (7) days before such record date, by newspaper advertisement in the manner provided in the Act and by written notice to each stock exchange in Canada, if any, on which the Corporation's shares are listed for trading. Where no record date is fixed in advance as aforesaid, the record date for the determination of the persons entitled to receive payment of any dividend shall be at the close of business on the day on which the resolution relating to such dividend is passed by the board.

 

DIVISION Twelve
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

12.01Confidential Information

 

Except as provided by the Act, no shareholders shall be entitled to obtain information respecting any details or conduct of the Corporation's business which, in the opinion of the directors, it would be inexpedient in the interests of the Corporation to communicate to the public.

 

12.02Conditions of Access to Information

 

The directors may from time to time, subject to rights conferred by the Act, determine whether and to what extent and at what time and place and under what conditions or regulations the documents, books and registers and accounting records of the Corporation or any of them shall be open to the inspection of shareholders and no shareholders shall have any right to inspect any document or book or register or account record of the Corporation except as conferred by statute or authorized by the board or by a resolution of the shareholders.

 

  

 

 

12.03Registered Office and Separate Records Office

 

The registered office of the Corporation shall be at a place within Alberta and at such location therein as the board may from time to time determine. The records office will be at the registered office or at such location, if any, within Alberta, as the board may from time to time determine.

 

DIVISION Thirteen
NOTICES

 

13.01Method of Giving Notices

 

A notice or document required by the Act, the Regulations, the articles or the by-laws to be sent to a shareholders or director of the Corporation may be sent by electronic means in accordance with the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Act, or by prepaid mail addressed to, or may be delivered personally to:

 

a.the shareholder at his latest address as shown in the records of the Corporation or its transfer agent; and

 

b.the director at his latest address as shown in the records of the Corporation or in the last notice filed under section 106 or 113.

 

A notice or document sent by mail in accordance with the foregoing to a shareholder or director of the Corporation is deemed to be received by him at the time it would be delivered in the ordinary course of mail unless there are reasonable grounds for believing that the shareholders or director did not receive the notice or document at the time or at all.

 

13.02Notice to Joint Shareholders

 

If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any share, any notice may be addressed to all of such joint holders but notice addressed to one of such persons shall be sufficient notice to all of them.

 

13.03Persons Entitled by Death or Operation of Law

 

Every person who, by operation of law, transfer, death of a shareholder or any other means whatsoever, shall become entitled to any share, shall be bound by every notice in respect of such share which shall have been duly given to the shareholders from whom he derives his title to such share prior to his name and address being entered on the securities register (whether such notice was given before or after the happening of the event upon which he became so entitled) and prior to his furnishing to the Corporation the proof of authority or evidence of his entitlement prescribed by the Act.

 

13.04Non-Receipt of Notices

 

If a notice or document is sent to a shareholder in accordance with section 13.01 and the notice or document is returned on two (2) consecutive occasions because the shareholder cannot be found, the Corporation is not required to send any further notice or documents to the shareholder until the shareholder informs the Corporation in writing of his new address; provided always, that in the event of the return of a notice of a shareholders meeting mailed to a shareholder in accordance with section 13.01 the notice shall be deemed to be received by the shareholder on the date deposited in the mail notwithstanding its return.

 

  

 

 

13.05Omissions and Errors

 

Subject to the Act, the accidental omission to give any notice to any shareholder, director, officer, auditor or member of a committee of the board or the non-receipt of any notice by any such person or any error in any notice not affecting the substance thereof shall not invalidate any action taken at any meeting held pursuant to such notice or otherwise founded thereon.

 

13.06Signature on Notices

 

Unless otherwise specifically provided, the signature of any director or officer of the Corporation to any notice or document to be given by the Corporation may be written, stamped, typewritten or printed or partly written, stamped, typewritten or printed.

 

13.07Waiver of Notice

 

If a notice or document is required by the Act or the Regulations, the articles, the by-laws or otherwise to be sent, the sending of the notice or document may be waived or the time for the notice or document may be waived or abridged at any time with the consent in writing of the person entitled to receive it. The consent of a person entitled to waive the requirement for the sending of a notice or document or to waive or abridge the time for the notice or the document may be sent by electronic means in accordance with the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Act.

 

DIVISION Fourteen
MISCELLANEOUS

 

14.01Directors to Require Surrender of Share Certificates

 

The directors in office when a Certificate of Continuance is issued under the Act are hereby authorized to require the shareholders of the Corporation to surrender their share certificate(s), or such of their share certificates as the directors may determine, for the purpose of cancelling the share certificates and replacing them with new share certificates that comply with section 48 of the Act, in particular, replacing existing share certificate with share certificates that are not negotiable securities under the Act. The directors in office shall act by resolution under this section 14.01 and shall in their discretion decide the manner in which they shall require the surrender of existing share certificates and the time within which the shareholders must comply with the requirement and the form or forms of the share certificates to be issued in place of the existing share certificates. The directors may take such proceedings as they deem necessary to compel any shareholder to comply with a requirement to surrender his share certificate or certificates pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this by-law, but subject to the Act, the director may refuse to register the transfer of shares represented by a share certificate that has not been surrendered pursuant to a requirement under this section.

 

14.02Financial Assistance to Shareholders, Employees and Others

 

The Corporation may give financial assistance by means of a loan, guarantee or otherwise to any person for any purpose in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Regulations including, without limitation, the disclosure requirements specified therein.

 

  

 

 

14.03Severability

 

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this by-law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this by-law.

 

MADE by the Board the 10th day of April, 2017.

 

  (signed) "Andy Mah"
  Andy Mah, President
   
  (signed) "Jay P. Reid"
  Jay P. Reid, Corporate Secretary

 

CONFIRMED by the Shareholders in accordance with the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), the          day of                        , 2017.

 

   

 

  

 

 

 

BANKING AND SECURITIES    
  Banking Arrangements 2.01 2
  Voting Rights in Other Bodies Corporate 2.02 2
       
DIRECTORS    
  Number 4.01 3
  Election and Term 4.02 3
  Removal of Directors 4.03 3
  Consent 4.04 4
  Vacation of Office 4.05 4
  Committee of Directors 4.06 4
  Transaction of Business of Committee 4.07 4
  Procedure 4.08 5
  Remuneration and Expenses 4.09 5
  Vacancies 4.10 5
  Action by the Board 4.11 5
       
DIVIDENDS AND RIGHTS    
  Dividends 11.01 19
  Dividend Cheques 11.02 19
  Non-Receipt of Cheques 11.03 19
  Unclaimed Dividends 11.04 19
  Record Date for Dividends and Rights 11.05 19
       
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS    
  Authorized Signing Officers 3.01 2
  Cheques, Drafts and Notes 3.02 3
       
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS    
  Confidential Information 12.01 20
  Conditions of Access to Information 12.02 20
  Registered Office and Separate Records Office 12.03 20
       
INTERPRETATION 1.01 1
     
MEETING OF DIRECTORS    
  Place of Meeting 5.01 5
  Notice of Meeting 5.02 5
  Adjourned Meeting 5.03 6
  Calling of the Meeting 5.04 6
  Regular Meetings 5.05 6
  Chairman 5.06 7
  Quorum 5.07 7
  One-Quarter Canadian Representation at Meetings 5.08 7
  Voting 5.09 7
  Participation in Meeting 5.10 7
  Resolution in Lieu of Meeting 5.11 7
  Amendments to the Act 5.12 8

 

  

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS    
  Directors to Require Surrender of Share Certificates 14.01 22
  Financial Assistance to Shareholders, Employees and 14.02 22
   Others    
  Severability 14.03 23
       
NOTICES    
  Method of Giving Notices 13.01 20
  Notice to Joint Shareholders 13.02 21
  Persons Entitled by Death or Operation of Law 13.03 21
  Non-Receipt of Notices 13.04 21
  Omissions and Errors 13.05 21
  Signature on Notices 13.06 21
  Waiver of Notice 13.07 21
       
OFFICERS    
  Election or Appointment 7.01 10
  Chairman of the Board 7.02 10
  Managing Director 7.03 10
  President 7.04 10
  Vice-President 7.05 10
  Secretary 7.06 10
  Treasurer 7.07 11
  General Manager or Manager 7.08 11
  Powers and Duties of Other Officers 7.09 11
  Variation of Powers and Duties 7.10 11
  Vacancies 7.11 11
  Remuneration and Removal 7.12 11
  Agents and Attorneys 7.13 12
  Conflict of Interest 7.14 12
  Fidelity Bonds 7.15 12
       
PROTECTION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS    
  Conflict of Interest 6.01 8
  Limitation of Liability 6.02 8
  Indemnity 6.03 9
  Insurance 6.04 9
       
SHARES    
  Non-Recognition of Trusts 9.01 17
  Certificates 9.02 17
  Replacement of Share Certificates 9.03 17
  Joint Holders 9.04 17
       
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS    
  Annual Meetings 8.01 12
  Special Meetings 8.02 12
  Place of Meetings 8.03 12
  Record Date for Notice 8.04 13
  Notice of Meeting 8.05 13
  Right to Vote 8.06 13

 

  

 

 

  List of Shareholders Entitled to Notice 8.07 13
  Meetings Without Notice 8.08 14
  Waiver of Notice 8.09 14
  Chairman, Secretary and Scrutineers 8.10 14
  Persons Entitled to be Present 8.11 14
  Quorum 8.12 15
  Participation in Meeting 8.13 15
  Proxyholders and Representatives 8.14 15
  Time for Deposit of Proxies 8.15 15
  Joint Shareholders 8.16 15
  Votes to Govern 8.17 16
  Conduct of Vote 8.18 16
  Ballots 8.19 16
  Adjournment 8.20 16
  Resolution in Lieu of a Meeting 8.21 17
  Only One Shareholder 8.22 17
TRANSFER OF SECURITIES    
  Registration of Transfer 10.01 18
  Transfer Agents and Registrar 10.02 18
  Securities' Registers 10.03 18
  Deceased Shareholders 10.04 19

 

 

 

  

GENERAL BY-LAW

 

BY-LAW NUMBERNO. 1

A by-law relating generally to the conduct of the business and affairs of BY-LAW RELATING
GENERALLY TO THE CONDUCT OF THE AFFAIRS OF

 

925212 ALBERTA LTD.ADVANTAGE OIL & GAS LTD.

 

(hereinafter called the "Corporation").

 

IT IS HEREBY ENACTED as a by-law of the Corporation as follows:

 

DIVISION OneDIVISION 1
INTERPRETATION

 

1.01In the by-laws of the Corporation, unless the context otherwise specifies or requires:

 

a."Act" means the Business Corporations Act of Alberta, as from time to time amended and every statute that may be substituted therefore and, in the case of such substitution, any references in the by-laws of the Corporation to provisions of the Act shall be read as references to the substituted provisions therefortherefore in the new statute or statutes;

 

b."appoint" includes "elect" and vice versa;

 

c."articles" means the articles of incorporation or continuance of the Corporation, as from time to time amended or restated;

 

d."board" means the board of directors of the Corporation;

 

e."business day" means a day which is not a non-business day;

 

f."by-laws" means this by-law and all other by-laws of the Corporation from time to time in force and effect; -

 

g."meeting of shareholders" includes an annual and a special meeting of shareholders;

 

h."non-business day" means Saturday, Sunday and any other day that is a holiday as from time to time defined in The Interpretation Act of Alberta;

 

i."Regulations" means the regulations under the Act as published or from time to time amended and every regulation that may be substituted therefore and, in the case of such substitution, any references in the by-laws of the Corporation to provisions of the Regulations shall be read as references to the substituted provisions therefore in the new regulations;

 

 

 

 

j."signing officer" means, in relation to any instrument, any person authorized to sign the same on behalf of the Corporation by virtue of section 3.01 of this by-law or by a resolution passed pursuant thereto; and

 

k."special meeting of shareholders" means a meeting of any particular class or classes of shareholders and a meeting of all shareholders entitled to vote at any annual meeting of shareholders at which special business is to be transacted.

 

Save as aforesaid, all terms which are contained in the by-laws of the Corporation and which are defined in the Act or the Regulations shall, unless the context otherwise specifies or requires, have the meanings given to such terms in the Act or the Regulations.  Words importing the singular number include the plural and vice versa; the masculine shall include the feminine; and the word "person" shall include an individual, partnership, association, body corporate, body politic, trustee, executor, administrator and legal representative.

 

Headings used in the by-laws are inserted for reference purposes only and are not to be considered or taken into account in construing the terms or provisions thereof or to be deemed in any way to clarify, modify or explain the effect of any such terms or provisions.

 

DIVISION TwoDIVISION 2
BANKING AND SECURITIES

 

2.01Banking Arrangements

 

The banking business of the Corporation including, without limitation, the borrowing of money and the giving of security therefortherefore, shall be transacted with such banks, trust companies or other bodies corporate or organizations or any other persons as may from time to time be designated by or under the authority of the board.  Such banking business or any part thereof shall be transacted under such agreements, instructions and delegations of power as the board may from time to time prescribe or authorize.

 

2.02Voting Rights in Other Bodies Corporate

 

The signing officers of the Corporation may execute and deliver instruments of proxy and arrange for the issuance of voting certificates or other evidence of the right to exercise the voting rights attaching to any securities held by the Corporation.  Such instruments, certificates or other evidence shall be in favour of such person or persons as may be determined by the officers executing such proxies or arranging for the issuance of such voting certificates or evidence of the right to exercise such voting rights. In addition, the board, or failing the board, the signing officers of the Corporation, may direct the manner in which and the person or persons by whom any particular voting rights or class of voting rights may or shall be exercised.

 

DIVISION ThreeDIVISION 3
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS

 

3.01Authorized Signing Officers

 

Unless otherwise authorized by the board, deeds, transfers, assignments, contracts, obligations, certificates and other instruments may be signed on behalf of the Corporation by any two of the president, chairman of the board, managing director, any vice-president, any director, controller, corporate secretary, treasurer, any assistant corporate secretary or any assistant treasurer or any other officer created by by-law or by the board.  In addition, the board may from time to time direct the manner in which and the person or persons by whom any particular instrument or class of instruments may or shall be signed. Any signing officer may affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring the same, but no instrument is invalid merely because the corporate seal is not affixed thereto.

 

 - 2 -  

 

 

3.02Cheques, Drafts and Notes

 

All cheques, drafts or orders for the payment of money and all notes and acceptances and bills of exchange shall be signed by such officer or person or persons, whether or not officers of the Corporation, and in such manner as the board may from time to time designate by resolution.

 

DIVISION FourDIVISION 4
DIRECTORS

 

4.01Number

 

The board shall consist of such number of directors as is fixed by the articles, or where the articles specify a variable number, shall consist of such number of directors as is not less than the minimum nor more than the maximum number of directors provided in the articles and as shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the shareholders.

 

4.02Election and Term

 

Subject to the articles or a unanimous shareholder agreement, the election of directors shall take place at each annual meeting of shareholders and all of the directors then in office, unless elected for a longer period of time (not to exceed the close of the third (3rd) annual meeting of shareholders following election), shall retire but, if qualified, shall be eligible for re-election.  The number of directors to be elected at any such meeting shall, subject to the articles or a unanimous shareholder agreement, be the number of directors then in office, or the number of directors whose terms of office expire at the meeting, as the case may be, except that, if cumulative voting is not required by the articles and the articles otherwise permit, the shareholders may resolve to elect some other number of directors.  Where the shareholders adopt an amendment to the articles to increase the number or minimum number of directors, the shareholders may, at the meeting at which they adopt the amendment, elect the additional number of directors authorized by the amendment.  If an election of directors is not held at the proper time, the incumbent directors shall continue in office until their successors are elected.  If the articles provide for cumulative voting, each director elected by shareholders (but not directors elected or appointed by creditors or employees) ceases to hold office at the annual meeting and each shareholder entitled to vote at an election of directors has the right to casecast a number of votes equal to the number of votes attached to the shares held by him multiplied by the number of directors he is entitled to vote for, and he may casecast all such votes in favour of one candidate or distribute them among the candidates in any manner.  If he has voted for more than one candidate without specifying the distribution among such candidate, he shall be deemed to have divided his votes equally among the candidates for whom he voted.

 

4.03Removal of Directors

 

Subject to the Act and the articles, the shareholders may by ordinary resolution passed at a special meeting remove any director from office, except a director elected by employees or creditors pursuant to the articles or a unanimous shareholder agreement, and the vacancy created by such removal may be filled at the same meeting, failing which it may be filled by the board.  However, if the articles provide for cumulative voting, no director shall be removed pursuant to this section where the votes cast against the resolution for his removal would, if cumulatively voted at an election of the full board, be sufficient to elect one or more directors. -

 

 - 3 -  

 

 

4.04Consent

 

A person who is elected or appointed a director is not a director unless:

 

a.he was present at the meeting when he was elected or appointed and did not refuse to act as a director, or

 

b.if he was not present at the meeting when he was elected or appointed:

 

i.he consented in writing to act as a director before his election or appointment or within ten (10) days after it, or

 

ii.he has acted as a director pursuant to the election or appointment.

 

4.05Vacation of Office

 

A director of the Corporation ceases to hold office when:•:

 

a.he dies or resigns;

 

b.he is removed in accordance with section 104109 of the Act; or

 

c.he becomes disqualified under subsection 100105(1) of the Act.

 

4.06Committee of Directors

 

The directors may appoint from among their number a managing director, who must be a resident Canadian, or a committee of directors, however designated, of which at least halfone-quarter of the members must be resident Canadians, and subject to section 110115 of the Act may delegate to the managing director or such committee any of the powers of the directors. A committee may be comprised of one director.

 

4.07Transaction of Business of Committee

 

Subject to the provisions of this by-law with respect to participation in a meeting by telephone, the powers of a committee of directors may be exercised by a meeting at which a quorum is present or by resolution in writing signed by all of the members of such committee who would have been entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the committee. Meetings of such committee may be held at any place in or outside Alberta and may be called by any one member of the committee giving notice in accordance with the by-laws governing the calling of meetings of the board.

 

 - 4 -  

 

 

4.08Procedure

 

Unless otherwise determined herein or by the board, each committee shall have the power to fix its quorum at not less than a majority of its members, to elect its chairman and to regulate its procedure.

 

4.09Remuneration and Expenses

 

Subject to any unanimous shareholder agreement, the directors shall be paid such remuneration for their services as the board may from time to time determine.  The directors shall also be entitled to be reimbursed for travelling and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending meetings of the board or any committee thereof.  Nothing herein contained shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving remuneration therefor.

 

4.10Vacancies

 

Subject to the Act, a quorum of the board may fill a vacancy among the directors, except a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number or minimum number of directors or from a failure to elect the number or minimum number of directors required by the articles. If there is not a quorum of directors, or if there has been a failure to elect the number or minimum number of directors required by the articles, the directors then in office shall forthwith call a special meeting of shareholders to fill the vacancy and, if they fail to call a meeting or if there are no directors then in office, the meeting may be called by any shareholder.

 

4.11Action by the Board

 

Subject to any unanimous shareholder agreement, the board shall manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation.  Notwithstanding a vacancy among the directors, a quorum of directors may exercise all the powers of the directors.  If the Corporation has only one director, that director may constitute a meeting.

 

DIVISION FiveDIVISION 5
MEETING OF DIRECTORS

 

5.01Place of Meeting

 

Meetings of the board may be held at any place within or outside Alberta.

 

5.02Notice of Meeting

 

Unless the board has made regulations otherwise, meetings of the board may be summoned on twenty-four (24) hours' notice, given verbally or in writing, and whether by means of telephone or telegraph, electronic means in accordance with the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Act, or any other means of communication.  A notice of a meeting of directors need not specify the purpose of or the business to be transacted at the meeting except where the Act requires such purpose or business to be specified, including any proposal to:

 

a.Submitsubmit to the shareholders any question or matter requiring approval of the shareholders;

 

b.fill a vacancy among the directors or in the office of auditor;

 

 - 5 -  

 

 

c.appoint additional directors;

 

c.d.issue securities, except in the manner and on the terms authorized by the board;

 

d.e.declare dividends;

 

e.f.purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares issued by the Corporation, except in the manner and on the terms authorized by the board;

 

f.g.pay a commission for the sale of shares;

 

g.h.approve a management proxy circular;

 

h.i.approve any financial statements to be placed before the shareholders at an annual meeting; or

 

i.j.adopt, amend or repeal by-laws.

 

Provided, however, that a director may in any manner, and either before or after the meeting, waive notice of a meeting and attendance of a director at a meeting of the board shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.

 

For the first meeting of the board to be held immediately following an election of directors no notice of such meeting shall be necessary, and for a meeting of the board at which a director is to be appointed to fill a vacancy in the board, no notice of such  meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected or appointed director or directors in order to legally constitute the meeting, provided, in each case, that a quorum of the directors is present.

 

5.03Adjourned Meeting

 

Notice of an adjourned meeting of the board is not required if the time and place of the adjourned meeting is announced at the original meeting.

 

5.04Calling of the Meetings

 

Meetings of the board shall be held from time to time at such time and at such place as the board, the chairman of the board, the managing director, the president or any two directors may determine.  Should more than one of the above-named call a meeting at or for substantially the same time, there shall be only one meeting held and such meeting shall occur at the time and place determined by, in order of priority, the board, any two directors, the chairman, or the president.

 

5.05Regular Meetings

 

The board may, from time to time, appoint a day or days in any month or months for regular meetings of the board at a place and hour to be named.  A copy of any resolution of the board fixing the place and time of such regular meetings shall be sent to each director forthwith after being passed, and forthwith to each director subsequently elected or appointed, but no other notice shall be required for any such regular meeting except where the Act or this by-law requires the purpose thereof or the business to be transacted thereat to be specified.

 

 - 6 -  

 

 

5.06Chairman

 

The chairman of any meeting of the board shall be the first mentioned of such of the following officers as have been appointed and who is a director and is present at the meeting:  chairman of the board, managing director or president. If no such officer is present, the directors present shall choose one of their number to be chairman.

 

5.07Quorum

 

Subject to the following section 5.08, the quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the board shall consist of a majority of the directors holding office or such greater number of directors as the board may from time to time determine.

 

5.08HalfOne-Quarter Canadian Representation at Meetings

 

Directors shall not transact business at a meeting of directors unless at least halfone-quarter of the directors present are resident Canadians.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, directors may transact business at a meeting of directors when less than halfone-quarter of the directors present are resident Canadians if:

 

a.a resident Canadian director who is unable to be present approves in writing or by electronic means, telephone or other communications facilities the business transacted at the meeting; and

 

b.the number of resident Canadian directors present at the meeting, together with any resident Canadian director who gives his approval under clause  (a), totals at least halfone-quarter of the directors present at the meeting.

 

5.09Voting

 

Questions arising at any meeting of the board shall be decided by a majority of votes, and in the event of any equality of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.

 

5.10Participation in Meeting by Telephone

 

A director may participate in a meeting of the board or a committee of the board by electronic means of such, telephone, or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to hear or otherwise communicate with each other, and a director participating in such meeting by such means is deemed to be present at the meeting.

 

5.11Resolution in Lieu of Meeting

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this by-law, a resolution in writing signed by all the directors entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the board or a committee of directors is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the board or committee of directors, as the case may be.  A copy of every such resolution shall be kept with the minutes of the proceedings of the directors or committee of directors.  Any such resolution in writing is effective for all purposes at such time as the resolution states regardless of when the resolution is signed and may be signed in counterpart.

 

 - 7 -  

 

 

5.12Amendments to the Act

 

It is hereby affirmed that the intention of sections 4.06, 5.08 and 7.03, as they relate to Canadian representation, is to comply with the minimum requirements of the Act and in the event that such minimum requirements shall be amended, deleted or replaced such that no, or lesser, requirements with respect to Canadian representation are then in force, such sections shall be deemed to be correspondingly amended, deleted or replaced without any further act of the directors or shareholders of the Corporation.

 

DIVISION SixDIVISION 6
PROTECTION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS

 

6.01Conflict of Interest

 

A director or officer shall not be disqualified from his office, or be required to vacate his office, by reason only that he is a party to, or is a director or officer or has a material interest in any person who is a party to, a material contract or material transaction or proposed material contract or proposed material transaction with the Corporation or a subsidiary thereof.  Such a director or officer shall, however, disclose the nature and extent of his interest in the contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction at the time and in the manner provided by the Act.  Subject to the provisions of the Act, a director or officer shall not by reason only of his office be accountable to the Corporation or to its shareholders for any profit or gain realized from such a contract or transaction, and such contract or transaction shall not be void or voidable by reason only of the director's interest therein, provided that the required declaration and disclosure of interest is properly made, the contract or transaction is approved by the directors or shareholders, if necessary, and it was fair and reasonable to the Corporation at the time it was approved and, if required by the Act, the director refrains from voting as a director on the contract or transaction. 

 

Even if the above conditions are not met, a director or officer acting honestly and in good faith shall not be accountable to the Corporation or to its shareholders for any profit realized from a material contract or material transaction for which disclosure is required by the Act, and such contract or transaction shall not be void or voidable by reason only of the director or officer's interest therein, provided that the material contract or material transaction was approved or confirmed by special resolution at a meeting of the shareholders, disclosure of the interest was made to the shareholders in a manner sufficient to indicate its nature before such contract or transaction was approved or confirmed, and such contract or transaction was reasonable and fair to the Corporation at the time it was approved or confirmed.

 

6.02Limitation of Liability

 

Every director and officer of the Corporation, in exercising his powers and discharging his duties, shall act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation and shall exercise the care, diligence and skills that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.  Subject to the foregoing, no director or officer, for the time being of the Corporation, shall be liable for the acts, neglects or defaults of any other director or officer or employee or for joining in any act for conformity, or for any loss, damage or expense happening to the Corporation through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by the Corporation or for or on behalf of the Corporation or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the moneys of or belonging to the Corporation shall be placed out or invested or for any loss,-, conversion, misapplication or misappropriation of or any damage resulting for any dealings with any moneys, securities or other assets belonging to the Corporation or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortious acts of any person with whom any of the moneys, securities or effects of the Corporation shall be deposited, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which may happen in the execution of the duties of his respective office or trust or in relation thereto; provided that nothing herein shall relieve any director or officer from the duty to act in accordance with the Act and the Regulations thereunder or from liability for any breach thereof.  The directors, for the time being of the Corporation, shall not be under any duty or responsibility in respect of any contract, act or transaction whether or not ,made, done or entered into in the name or .on behalf of the Corporation, except such as shall have been submitted to and authorized or approved by the board.

 

 - 8 -  

 

 

No act or proceeding of any director or officer or the board shall be deemed invalid or ineffective by reason of the subsequent ascertainment of any irregularity in regard to such act or proceeding or the election, appointment or qualification of such director or officer or board.

 

6.03Indemnity

 

Subject to section 119124 of the Act, the Corporation shall indemnify a director or officer of the Corporation, a former director or officer of the Corporation or a person who acts or acted at the Corporation's request as a director or officer of a body corporate of which the Corporation is or was a shareholder or creditor, and his heirs and legal representatives, against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by him in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of the Corporation or body corporate, if:

 

a.he acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation; and

 

b.in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, he had reasonable grounds for believing that his conduct was lawful.

 

The Corporation shall also indemnify such persons in such other circumstances as the Act permits or requires.  Nothing herein contained shall limit the right of any person entitled to indemnity to claim indemnity apart from the provisions of this section 6.03.

 

6.04Insurance

 

The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person referred to in section 6.03 against any liability incurred by him:

 

a.in his capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, except where the liability relates to his failure to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation; or

 

b.in his capacity as a director or officer of the another body corporate where he acts or acted in that capacity at the Corporation's request, except where the liability relates to his failure to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the body corporate.

 

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DIVISION SevenDIVISION 7
OFFICERS

 

7.01Election or Appointment

 

Subject to any unanimous shareholder agreement, the board may, from time to time, appoint a chairman of the board, a president, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary, a treasurer and such other officers as the board may determine, including one or more assistants to any of the officers so appointed.  The board may specify the duties of and, in accordance with this by-law and subject to the provisions of the Act, delegate to such officers powers to manage the business and affairs of the Corporation. Except for a managing director and a chairman of the board who must be directors, an officer may, but need not be, a director and one person may hold more than one office.

 

7.02Chairman of the Board

 

The chairman of the board shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the board, committees of directors and at all meetings of shareholders.

 

If no managing director is appointed, the board may assign to the chairman of the board any of the powers and duties that, by any provision of this by-law, are assigned to the managing director; and he shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, have such other powers and duties as the board may specify.  During the absence or disability of the chairman of the board, his duties shall be performed and his powers exercised by the managing director, if any, or by the president.

 

7.03Managing Director

 

The managing director, if any, shall be a resident Canadian and shall have, subject to the authority of the board, general supervision of the business and affairs of the Corporation; and he shall, subject to the provisions Ofof the Act, have such other powers and duties as the board may specify.

 

7.04President

 

The president shall, subject to the authority of the board and the managing director, if any, have such powers and duties as the board may specify.  During the absence or disability of the managing director, or if no managing director has been appointed, the president shall also have the powers and duties of that office; provided, however, that unless he is a director he shall not preside as chairman at any meeting of the board or of a committee of directors.

 

7.05Vice-President

 

During the absence or disability of the president, his duties shall be performed and his powers exercised by the vice-president or, if there is more than one, by the vice-president designated from time to time by the board or the president; provided, however, that a vice-president who is not a director shall not preside as chairman at any meeting of the board or of a committee of directors.  A vice-president shall have such other powers and duties as the board or the president may prescribe.

 

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7.06Secretary

 

The secretary shall attend and be the secretary of all meetings of the board, shareholders and committees of directors and shall enter or cause to be entered in records kept for that purpose minutes of all proceedings thereat; he shall give or cause to be given, as and when instructed, all notices to shareholders, directors, officers, auditors and members of committees of the board; he shall be the custodian of the stamp or mechanical device generally used for affixing the corporate seal of the Corporation and of all books, papers, records, documents and instruments belonging to the Corporation, except when some other officer or agent has been appointed for that purpose; and he shall have such other powers and duties as the board or the chief executive officer, if any, may specify.

 

7.07Treasurer

 

The treasurer shall keep proper accounting records in compliance with the Act and shall be responsible for the deposit of money, the safekeeping of securities and the disbursement of the funds of the Corporation; he shall render to the board whenever required an account of all his transactions and he shall have such other powers and duties as the board or chief executive officer, if any, or the president may specify.

 

7.08General Manager or Manager

 

If elected or appointed, the general manager shall have, subject to the authority of the board, the managing director, if any, the chief executive officer, if any, and the president, full power to manage and direct the business and affairs of the Corporation (except such matters and duties as by law must be transacted or performed by the board and/or by the shareholders) and to employ and discharge agents and employees of the Corporation and may delegate to him or them any lesser authority.  A general manager or manager shall conform to all lawful orders given to him by the board and shall at all reasonable times give to the directors or any of them all information they may require regarding the affairs of the Corporation.  Any agent or employee appointed by a general manager or manager shall be subject to discharge by the board.

 

7.09Powers and Duties of Other Officers

 

The powers and duties of all other officers shall be such as the terms of their engagement call for or as the board, the managing director, if any, or the chief executive officer, if any, or the president may specify.  Any of the powers and duties of an officer to whom an assistant has been appointed may be exercised and performed by such assistant, unless the board or the chief executive officer, if any, or the president otherwise directs.

 

7.10Variation of Powers and Duties

 

The board may from time to time and subject to the provisions of the Act, vary, add to or limit the powers and duties of any officer.

 

7.11Vacancies

 

If the office of any officer of the Corporation shall be or become vacant by reason of death, resignation, disqualification or otherwise, the board, by resolution, may appoint a person to fill such vacancy.

 

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7.12Remuneration and Removal

 

The remuneration of all officers appointed by the board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the board.  The fact that any officer or employee is a director or shareholder of the Corporation shall not disqualify him from receiving such remuneration as may be determined.  All officers shall be subject to removal by resolution of the board at any time, with or without cause, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, provided however that this right of removal shall not limit in any way such officer's right to damages by virtue of such agreement or any other rights resulting from such removal in law or equity.

 

7.13Agents and Attorneys

 

The Corporation, by or under the authority of the board, shall have power from time to time to appoint agents or attorneys for the Corporation in or outside Canada with such powers (including the power to sub-delegate) of management, administration or otherwise as may be thought fit.

 

7.14Conflict of Interest

 

An officer shall disclose his interest in any material contract or material transaction or proposed material contract or proposed material transaction with the Corporation in accordance with section 6.01.

 

7.15Fidelity Bonds

 

The board may require such officers, employees and agent of the Corporation, as the board deems advisable, to furnish bonds for the faithful discharge of their powers and duties, in such forms and with such surety as the board may from time to time determine.

 

DIVISION EightDIVISION 8
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS

 

8.01Annual Meetings

 

Subject to the Act, the annual meeting of shareholders shall be held at such time and on such day in each year and at such place or places as the board, the chairman of the board, the managing director or the president may from time to time determine, for the purpose of considering the financial statements and reports required by the Act to be placed before the annual meeting, electing directors, appointing auditors if required by the Act or the articles, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

 

8.02Special Meetings

 

The board shall have the power to call a special meeting of shareholders at any time.

 

8.03Place of Meetings

 

Meetings of shareholders shall be held as provided for in the articles, or failing any reference in the articles, at such place in Alberta as the board may determine. Subject to the Act, if the directors or the shareholders of the Corporation call a meeting of shareholders, the directors or the shareholders, as the case may be, may determine that the meeting shall be held entirely by electronic means, telephone or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting.

 

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8.04Record Date for Notice

 

The board may fix in advance a date, preceding the date of any meeting of shareholders by not more than fifty (50) days and not less than twenty-one (21) days, as a record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at the meeting.  If no record date is fixed, the record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to receive notice of or to vote at the meeting shall be the close of business on the date immediately preceding the day on which the notice is given or, if no notice is given, the day on which the meeting is held.

 

8.05Notice of Meeting

 

Notice of the time and place of each meeting of shareholders shall be sent not less than twenty-one (21) days and not more than fifty (50) days before the meeting to each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting, each director and the auditor of the Corporation.  Such notice may be sent by electronic means in accordance with the Electronic Transactions Act, or by mail addressed to, or may be delivered personally to, the shareholder, at his latest address as shown in the records of the Corporation or its transfer agent, to the director, at his latest address as shown in the records of the Corporation or in the last notice filed pursuant to section 101106 or 108113 of the Act, or to the auditor, at his most recent address as shown in the records of the Corporation.  A notice of meeting of shareholders sent by mail to a shareholder, director or auditor in accordance with the above is deemed to be served on the day on which it was deposited in the mail.  A notice of a meeting is not required to be sent to shareholders who are not registered on the records of the Corporation or its transfer agent on the record date as determined according to section 8.04 hereof.  Notice of a meeting of shareholders at which special business is to be transacted shall state the nature of such business in sufficient detail to permit the shareholder to form a reasoned judgment thereon and shall state the text of any special resolution to be submitted to the meeting. A special meeting and an annual meeting may be convened by one and the same notice and it shall not be an objection to the notice that it only convenes the second meeting contingently on any resolution being passed by the requisite majority at the first meeting.

 

8.06Right to Vote

 

Subject to the provisions of the Act as to authorized representatives of any other body corporate, at any meeting of shareholders in respect of which the Corporation has prepared the list referred to in section 8.07 hereof, every person who is named in such list shall be entitled to vote the shares shown thereon opposite his name except to the extent that such person has transferred any of his shares after the record date set pursuant to section 8.04 hereof, or, if no record date is fixed, after the date on which the list referred to in section 8.07 is prepared, and the transferee, upon producing properly endorsed certificates evidencing such shares or otherwise establishing that he owns such shares, demands not later than ten (10) days before the meeting that his name be included to vote the transferred shares at the meeting.  In the absence of a list prepared as aforesaid in respect of a meeting of shareholders, every person shall be entitled to vote at the meeting who at the close of business on the record date, or if no record date is set, at the close of business on the date preceding the date notice is sent, is entered in the securities'securities register as the holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at such meeting.

 

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8.07List of Shareholders Entitled to Notice

 

In the event the Corporation has greater than fifteen (15) shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting, for every meeting of shareholders theThe Corporation shall prepare a list of shareholders entitled to receive notice of the,a meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the number of shares held by each shareholder. in accordance with section 137 of the Act. If a record date for the meeting is fixed pursuant to section 8.04 hereof by the board, the shareholders listed shall be those registered at the close of business on the record date. If no record date is fixed by the board, the shareholders listed shall be those listed at the close of business on the last business day immediately preceding the day on which notice of a meeting is given, or where no such notice is given, the day on which the meeting is held.  The list shall be available for examination by any shareholder during usual business hours at the registered office of the Corporation or at the place where its central securities'securities register is maintained and at the place where the meeting is held.

 

8.08Meetings Without Notice

 

A meeting of shareholders may be held without notice at any time and place permitted by the Act:

 

a.if all the shareholders entitled to vote thereat are present in person or represented by proxy or if those not present or represented by proxy waive notice of or otherwise consent to such meeting being held; and

 

b.if the auditors and the directors are present or waive notice of or otherwise consent to such meeting being held.

 

At such meetings any business may be transacted which the Corporation at a meeting of shareholders may transact.  If the meeting is held at a place outside Canada, shareholders not present or represented by proxy, but who have waived notice of or otherwise consented to such meeting, shall also be deemed to have consented to a meeting being held at such place.

 

8.09Waiver of Notice

 

A shareholder and any other person entitled to attend a meeting of shareholders may in any manner waive notice of a meeting of shareholders and attendance of any such person at a meeting of shareholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called.

 

8.10Chairman, Secretary and Scrutineers

 

The chairman of the board or, in his absence, the president, if such an officer has been elected or appointed and is present, or otherwise a vice-president who is a shareholder of the Corporation, shall be chairman of any meeting of shareholders,. If no such officer is present within fifteen (15) minutes from the time fixed for holding the meeting, or declines to be chairman of the meeting, the persons present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to be chairman. If the secretary of the Corporation is absent, the chairman shall appoint some person, who need not be a shareholder, to act as secretary of the meeting.  If desired, one or more scrutineers, who need not be shareholders, may be appointed by a resolution or by the chairman with the consent of the meeting.

 

8.11Persons Entitled to be Present

 

The only persons entitled to be present at a meeting of shareholders shall be those entitled to vote thereat, the directors and auditors of the Corporation and others who, although not entitled to vote, are entitled or required under any provision of the Act or the articles or by-laws to be present at the meeting.  Any other person may be admitted only on the invitation of the chairman of the meeting or with the consent of the meeting.

 

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8.12Quorum

 

A quorum at any meeting of shareholders (unless a greater number of persons are required to be, present or a greater number of shares are required to be represented by the Act or by the articles or by any other by-law) shall be persons present not being less than two (2) in number and holding or representing not less than twenty-five (525%) per cent of the shares entitled to be voted at the meeting.  If a quorum is present at the opening of any meeting of shareholders, the shareholders present or represented may proceed with the business of the meeting notwithstanding that a quorum is not present throughout the meeting.  If a quorum is not present at the opening of the meeting of shareholders, the shareholders present or represented may adjourn the meeting to a fixed time and place but may not transact any other business.

 

8.13Participation in Meeting by Telephone

 

A shareholder or any other person entitled to attend a meeting may participate in a meeting of shareholders by electronic means of such, telephone or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to hear or otherwise communicate with each other, and a person participating in such a meeting by such means is deemed to be present at the meeting. Subject to the Act, any person participating in a meeting pursuant to this section and entitled to vote at the meeting may vote by electronic means, telephone or other communication facility that the Corporation has made available for that purpose.

 

8.14Proxyholders and Representatives

 

Votes at meetings of the shareholders may be given either personally or by proxy; or, in the case of a shareholder, who is a body corporate or association, by an individual authorized by a resolution of the board or governing body of the body corporate or association to represent it at a meeting of shareholders of the Corporation, upon producing a certified copy of such resolution or otherwise establishing his authority to vote to the satisfaction of the secretary or the chairman.

 

A proxy shall be executed by the shareholder or his attorney authorized in writing or, if the shareholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal or by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized, and is valid only at the meeting in respect of which it is given or any adjournment of that meeting.  A person appointed by proxy need not be a shareholder.

 

8.15Time for Deposit of Proxies

 

The board may specify in a notice calling a meeting of shareholders a time, preceding the time of such meeting by not more than forty-eight (48) hours exclusive of Saturdays and holidays, before which time proxies to be used at such meeting must be deposited.  A proxy shall be acted upon only if, prior to the time so specified, it shall have been deposited with the Corporation or an agent thereof specified in such notice or, if no such time having been specified in such notice, it has been received by the secretary of the Corporation or by the chairman of the meeting or any adjournment thereof prior to the time of voting.

 

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8.16Joint Shareholders

 

If two or more persons hold shares jointly, any one of them present in person or duly represented at a meeting of shareholder may, in the absence of the other or others, vote the shares; but if two or more of those persons are present in person or represented and vote, they shall vote as one the shares jointly held by them.

 

8.17Votes to Govern

 

Except as otherwise required by the Act, all questions proposed for the consideration of shareholders at a meeting of shareholders shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast and in the event of an equality of votes at any meeting of shareholders, either upon a show of hands or upon a ballot, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

 

8.18ShowConduct of Hands Vote

 

Subject to the Act, any questionvoting at a meeting of shareholders shall be decided by a show of hands, unless a ballot thereon is required or demanded as hereinafter provided. Upon, and may be held, subject to the Act, entirely by electronic means, telephone or other communication facility, if the corporation makes such a show of hands everycommunication facility available. Every person who is present or otherwise participating in the meeting pursuant to section 8.13 hereof and entitled to vote shall have one vote.  Whenever a vote by show of hands shall, have been taken upon a question, unless a ballot thereon is so required or demanded, a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that the vote upon the question has been carried or carried by a particular majority or not carrieddefeated and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be prima facie evidence of the fact without proof of the number of the votes recorded in favour of or against any resolution or other proceeding in respect of the said question, and the result of the vote so taken shall be the decision of shareholders upon the said question.

 

8.19Ballots

 

On any question proposed for consideration at a meeting of shareholders, a shareholder, proxyholder or other person entitled to vote may demand and the chairman may require that a ballot be taken either before or upon the declaration of the result of any vote by show of hands.. If a ballot is demanded on the election of a chairman or on the question of an adjournment it shall be taken forthwith without an adjournment.  A ballot demanded or required on any other question shall be taken in such manner as the chairman shall direct. A demand or requirement for a ballot may be withdrawn at any time prior to the taking of the ballot. If a ballot is taken each person present shall be entitled, in respect of the shares that he is entitled to vote at the meeting upon the question, to the number of votes as provided for by the articles or, in the. absence of such provision in the articles, to one vote for each share he is entitled to vote.  The result of the ballot so taken shall be the decision of the shareholders upon the question.  The demand or requirement for a ballot shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the ballot has been demanded or required.

 

8.20Adjournment

 

The chairman at a meeting of shareholders may, with the consent of the meeting and subject to such conditions as the meeting may decide, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place.  If a meeting of shareholders is adjourned for less than thirty (30) days, it shall not be necessary to give notice of the adjourned meeting, other than by announcement at the time of the adjournment.  Subject to the Act, if a meeting of shareholders is adjourned by one or more adjournments for an aggregate of thirty (30) days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in the same manner as notice for an original meeting but, unless the meeting is adjourned by one or more adjournments for an aggregate of more than ninety (90) day, subsection 143149(1) of the Act does not apply.

 

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8.21Resolution in Lieu of a Meeting

 

A resolution in writing signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of shareholders is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the shareholders; and a resolution in writing dealing with all matters required to be dealt with at a meeting of shareholders and signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, satisfies all the requirements of the Act relating to meetings of shareholders.  A copy of every such resolution in writing shall be kept with minutes of the meetings of shareholders.  Any such resolution in writing is effective for all purposes at such time as the resolution states regardless of when the resolution is signed and may be signed in counterpart.

 

8.22Only One Shareholder

 

Where the Corporation has only one shareholder or only one holder of any class or series of shares, the shareholder present in person or duly represented constitutes a meeting.

 

DIVISION NineDIVISION 9
SHARES

 

9.01Non-Recognition of Trusts

 

Subject to the Act, the Corporation may treat the registered holder of any share as the person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notices, to receive any dividend or other payment in respect of the share, and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner of the share.

 

9.02Certificates

 

The shareholder is entitled at his option to a share certificate that complies with the Act or a non-transferable written acknowledgement of his right to obtain a share certificate from the Corporation in respect of the securities of the Corporation held by him.  Share certificates and acknowledgements of a shareholders'shareholder's right to a share certificate, respectively, shall be in such form as described by the Act and as the board shall from time to time approve.  A share certificate shall be signed manually by at least one director or officer of the Corporation or by or on behalf of a registrar, transfer agent or branch transfer agent of the Corporation, or by a trustee who certifies it in accordance with a trust indenture, and any additional signatures required on the share certificate may be printed or otherwise mechanically reproduced on it.

 

9.03Replacement of Share Certificates

 

The board or any officer or agent designated by the board may in its or his discretion direct the issuance of a new share certificate or other such certificate in lieu of and upon cancellation of a certificate that has been mutilated or in substitution for a certificate claimed to have been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken on payment of such reasonable fee and on such terms as to indemnity, reimbursement of expenses and evidence of loss and of title as the board may from time to time prescribe, whether generally or in any particular case.

 

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9.04Joint Holders

 

The Corporation is not required to issue more than one share certificate in respect of a share held jointly by several persons, and delivery of a certificate to one of several joint holders is sufficient delivery to all.  Any one of such holders may give effectual receipts for the certificate issued in respect thereof or for any dividend, bonus, return of capital or other money payable or warrant issuable in respect of such certificate.

 

DIVISION TenDIVISION 10
TRANSFER OF SECURITIES

 

10.01Registration of Transfer

 

If a share in registered form is presented for registration of transfer, the Corporation shall register the transfer if:

 

a.the share is endorsed by an appropriate person, as defined in section 61 of the Securities Transfer Act; (Alberta);

 

b.reasonable assurance is given that the endorsement is genuine and effective;

 

c.the Corporation has no duty to enquire into adverse claims or has discharged any such duty;

 

d.any applicable law relating to the collection of taxes has been complied with;

 

d.e.the transfer is rightful or is to a bona fide purchaser; and

 

e.f.the transfer fee, if any, has been paid.

 

10.02Transfer Agents and Registrar

 

The board may from time to time by resolution appoint or remove one or more trust companies registered under the. Trust Companies Act as its agent or agents to maintain a central securities'securities register or registers, and an agent or agents to maintain a branch securities'securities register or registers.  Agents so appointed may be designated as transfer agent or registrar according to their functions, and a person may be appointed and designated with functions as both registrar and transfer or branch transfer agent.  Registration of the issuance or transfer of a security in the central securities'securities register or in a branch securities'securities register is complete and valid registration for all purposes.

 

10.03Securities'Securities Registers

 

A central securities'securities register of the Corporation shall be kept at its registered office or at any other place in Alberta designated by the board to record the shares and other securities issued by the Corporation in registered form, showing with respect to each class or series of shares and other securities:

 

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a.the names, alphabetically arranged, and the latest known address of each person who is or has been a holder;

 

b.the number of shares or other securities held by each holder; and

 

c.the date and particulars of the issuance and transfer of each share or other security.

 

A branch securities'securities register or registers may be kept either in or outside Alberta at such place or places as the board may determine. A branch securities'securities register shall only contain particulars of securities issued or transferred at that branch.  Particulars of each issue or transfer of a security registered in a branch securities'securities register shall also be kept in the corresponding central securities'securities register.

 

10.04Deceased Shareholders

 

In the event of the death of a holder, or of one of the joint holders, of any share, the Corporation shall not be required to make any entry in the securities'securities register in respect thereof or to make any dividend or other payments in respect thereof except upon production of all such documents as may be required by law and upon compliance with the reasonable requirements of the Corporation and its transfer agents.

 

DIVISION ElevenDIVISION 11
DIVIDENDS AND RIGHTS

 

11.01Dividends

 

Subject to the Act, the board may from time to time declare dividends payable to the shareholders according to their respective rights and interest in the Corporation.  Dividends may be paid in money or property or by issuing fully-paid shares of the Corporation.

 

11.02Dividend Cheques

 

A dividend payable in money shall be paid by cheque to the order of each registered holder of shares of the class or series in respect of which it has been declared and shall be mailed by prepaid ordinary mail to such registered holder at his address recorded in the Corporation's securities'securities register or registers or such address as such holder otherwise directs.  In the case of joint holders the cheque shall, unless such joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of all such joint holders and mailed to them at their recorded address.  The mailing of such cheque as aforesaid, unless the same is not paid on due presentation, shall satisfy and discharge the liability for the dividend to the extent of the sum represented thereby plus the amount of any tax which the Corporation is required to and does withhold.

 

11.03Non-Receipt of Cheques

 

In the event of non-receipt of any dividend cheque by the person to whom it is sent as aforesaid, the Corporation shall issue to such person a replacement cheque for a like amount on such terms as to indemnity, reimbursement of expenses and evidence of non-receipt and of title as the board may from time to time prescribe, whether generally or in any particular case.

 

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11.04Unclaimed Dividends

 

No dividend shall bear interest against the Corporation.  Any dividend unclaimed after a period of six (6) years from the date on which the same has been declared to be payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Corporation.

 

11.05Record Date for Dividends and Rights

 

The board may fix in advance a date, preceding by not more than fifty (50) days the date for the. payment of any dividend, as a record date for the determination of the persons entitled to receive payment of such dividend, provided that, unless waived as provided for in the Act, notice of any such record date is given, not less than seven (7) days before such record date, by newspaper advertisement in the manner provided in the Act and by written notice to each stock exchange in Canada, if any, on which the Corporation's shares are listed for trading.  Where no record date is fixed in advance as aforesaid, the record date for the determination of the persons entitled to receive payment of any dividend shall be at the close of business on the day on which the resolution relating to such dividend is passed by the board.

 

DIVISION TwelveDIVISION 12
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

12.01Confidential Information

 

Except as provided by the Act, no shareholders shall be entitled to obtain information respecting any details or conduct of the Corporation's business which, in the opinion of the directors, it would be inexpedient in the interests of the Corporation to communicate to the public.

 

12.02Conditions of Access to Information

 

The directors may from time to time, subject to rights conferred by the Act, determine whether and to what extent and at what time and place and under what conditions or regulations the documents, books and registers and accounting records of the Corporation or any of them shall be open to the inspection of shareholders and no shareholders shall have any right to inspect any document or book or register or account record of the Corporation except as conferred by statute or authorized by the board or by a resolution of the shareholders.

 

12.03Registered Office and Separate Records Office

 

The registered office of the Corporation shall be at a place within Alberta and at such location therein as the board may from time to time determine.  The records office will be at the registered office or at such location, if any, within Alberta, as the board may from time to time determine.

 

DIVISION ThirteenDIVISION 13
NOTICES

 

13.01Method of Giving Notices

 

A notice or document required by the Act, the Regulations, the articles or the by-laws to be sent to a shareholders or director of the Corporation may be sent by electronic means in accordance with the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Act, or by prepaid mail addressed to, or may be delivered personally to:

 

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a.the shareholder at his latest address as shown in the records of the Corporation or its transfer agent; and

 

b.the director at his latest address as shown in the records of the Corporation or in the last notice filed under section 101106 or 108113.

 

A notice or document sent by mail in accordance with the foregoing to a shareholdersshareholder or director of the Corporation is deemed to be received by him at the time it would be delivered in the ordinary course of mail unless there are reasonable grounds for believing that the shareholders or director did not receive the notice or document at the time or at all.

 

13.02Notice to Joint Shareholders

 

If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any share, any notice may be addressed to all of such joint holders but notice addressed to one of such persons shall be sufficient notice to all of them.

 

13.03Persons Entitled by Death or Operation of Law

 

Every person who, by operation of law, transfer, death of a shareholder or any other means whatsoever, shall become entitled to any share, shall be bound by every notice in respect of such share which shall have been duly given to the shareholders from whom he derives his title to such share prior to his name and address being entered on the securities'securities register (whether such notice was given before or after the happening of the event upon which he became so entitled) and prior to his furnishing to the Corporation the proof of authority or evidence of his entitlement prescribed by the Act.

 

13.04Non-Receipt of Notices

 

If a notice or document is sent to a shareholder in accordance with section 13.01 and the notice or document is returned on three (3two (2) consecutive occasions because the shareholder cannot be found, the Corporation is not required to send any further notice or documents to the shareholder until the shareholder informs the Corporation in writing of his new address; provided always, that in the event of the return of a notice of a shareholders'shareholders meeting mailed to a shareholder in accordance with section 13.01 the notice shall be deemed to be received by the shareholder on the date deposited in the mail notwithstanding its return.

 

13.05Omissions and Errors

 

Subject to the Act, the accidental omission to give any notice to any shareholder, director, officer, auditor or member of a committee of the board or the non-receipt of any notice by any such person or any error in any notice not affecting the substance thereof shall not invalidate any action taken at any meeting held pursuant to such notice or otherwise founded thereon.

 

13.06Signature on Notices

 

Unless otherwise specifically provided, the signature of any director or officer of the Corporation to any notice or document to be given by the Corporation may be written, stamped, typewritten or printed or partly written, stamped, typewritten or printed.

 

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13.07Waiver of. Notice

 

If a notice or document is required by the Act or the Regulations, the articles, the by-laws or otherwise to be sent, the sending of the notice or document may be waived or the time for the notice or document may be waived or abridged at any time with the consent in writing of the person entitled to receive it. The consent of a person entitled to waive the requirement for the sending of a notice or document or to waive or abridge the time for the notice or the document may be sent by electronic means in accordance with the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Act.

 

DIVISION FourteenDIVISION 14
MISCELLANEOUS

 

14.01Directors to Require Surrender of Share Certificates

 

The directors in office when a Certificate of Continuance is issued under the Act are hereby authorized to require the shareholders of the Corporation to surrender their share certificate,(s), or such of their share certificates as the directors may determine, for the purpose of cancelling the share certificates and replacing them with new share certificates that comply with section 4548 of the Act, in particular, replacing existing share certificate with share certificates that are not negotiable securities under the Act. The directors in office shall act by resolution under this section 14.01 and shall in their discretion decide the manner in which they shall require the surrender of existing share certificates and the time within which the shareholders must comply with the requirement and the form or forms of the share certificates to be issued in place of the existing share certificates.  The directors may take such proceedings as they deem necessary to compel any shareholdersshareholder to comply with a requirement to surrender his share certificate or certificates pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this by-law, but subject to the Act, the director may refuse to register the transfer of shares represented by a share certificate that has not been surrendered pursuant to a requirement under this section.

 

14.02Financial Assistance to Shareholders, Employees and Others

 

The Corporation may give financial assistance by means of a loan, guarantee or otherwise:

 

a.to any person in the ordinary course of business if the lending of money is part of the ordinary business of the Corporation;

 

b.tofor any person on account of expenditures incurred or to be incurred on behalf of the Corporation;

 

c.to a holding body corporate if the Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the holding body corporate;

 

d.to a subsidiary body corporate of the Corporation; or

 

e.to employees of the Corporation or any of its affiliates:

 

i.to enable or assist them to purchase or erect living accommodation for their own occupation; or

 

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ii.purpose in accordance with the plan for the purchase of shares of the Corporation or any of its affiliates to be held by a trustee;

 

and, subject to provisions of the Act:

f.to a shareholder or director of the Corporation or of an affiliated corporation;

 

g.to an associate of a shareholder or of a director of the Corporation or of an affiliated corporation; Or

 

to any person for the purpose of or in connection with a purchase of a share issued or to be issued by the Corporation or an affiliated corporation and the Regulations including, without limitation, the disclosure requirements specified therein.

 

14.03Severability

 

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this by-law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this by-law.

 

MADE by the boardBoard the 17th10th day of April, 20012017.

 

     
    Jay P. Reid

 

  (signed) "Andy Mah"
  Andy Mah, President
   
  (signed) "Jay P. Reid"
  Jay P. Reid, Corporate Secretary

 

                                   CONFIRMED by the Shareholders in accordance with the Act,Business Corporations Act (Alberta), the 17th                 day of April, 2001                         , 2017.

  Advantage Energy Income Fund
   
  Per:  
     

 

 - 23 -  

 

 

BANKING AND SECURITIES    
Banking Arrangements 2.01 2
Voting Rights in Other Bodies Corporate 2.02 2
     
DIRECTORS    
Number 4.01 3
Election and Term 4.02 3
Removal of Directors 4.03 3
Consent 4.04 4
Vacation of Office 4.05 4
Committee of Directors 4.06 4
Transaction of Business of Committee 4.07 4
Procedure 4.08 5
Remuneration and Expenses 4.09 5
Vacancies 4.10 5
Action by the Board 4.11 5
     
DIVIDENDS AND RIGHTS    
Dividends 11.01 19
Dividend Cheques 11.02 19
Non-Receipt of Cheques 11.03 19
Unclaimed Dividends 11.04 19
Record Date for Dividends and Rights 11.05 19
     
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS    
Authorized Signing Officers 3.01 2
Cheques, Drafts and Notes 3.02 3
     
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS    
Confidential Information 12.01 20
Conditions of Access to Information 12.02 20
Registered Office and Separate Records Office 12.03 20
     
INTERPRETATION 1.01 1
     
MEETING OF DIRECTORS    
Place of Meeting 5.01 5
Notice of Meeting 5.02 5
Adjourned Meeting 5.03 6
Calling of the Meeting 5.04 6
Regular Meetings 5.05 6
Chairman 5.06 7
Quorum 5.07 7
One-Quarter Canadian Representation at Meetings 5.08 7
Voting 5.09 7
Participation in Meeting 5.10 7
Resolution in Lieu of Meeting 5.11 7
Amendments to the Act 5.12 8

 

 - i -  

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS    
Directors to Require Surrender of Share Certificates 14.01 22
Financial Assistance to Shareholders, Employees and 14.02 22
Others    
Severability 14.03 23
     
NOTICES    
Method of Giving Notices 13.01 20
Notice to Joint Shareholders 13.02 21
Persons Entitled by Death or Operation of Law 13.03 21
Non-Receipt of Notices 13.04 21
Omissions and Errors 13.05 21
Signature on Notices 13.06 21
Waiver of Notice 13.07 21
     
OFFICERS    
Election or Appointment 7.01 10
Chairman of the Board 7.02 10
Managing Director 7.03 10
President 7.04 10
Vice-President 7.05 10
Secretary 7.06 10
Treasurer 7.07 11
General Manager or Manager 7.08 11
Powers and Duties of Other Officers 7.09 11
Variation of Powers and Duties 7.10 11
Vacancies 7.11 11
Remuneration and Removal 7.12 11
Agents and Attorneys 7.13 12
Conflict of Interest 7.14 12
Fidelity Bonds 7.15 12
     
PROTECTION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS    
Conflict of Interest 6.01 8
Limitation of Liability 6.02 8
Indemnity 6.03 9
Insurance 6.04 9
     
SHARES    
Non-Recognition of Trusts 9.01 17
Certificates 9.02 17
Replacement of Share Certificates 9.03 17
Joint Holders 9.04 17
     
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS    
Annual Meetings 8.01 12
Special Meetings 8.02 12
Place of Meetings 8.03 12
Record Date for Notice 8.04 13

 

 - ii -  

 

 

Notice of Meeting 8.05 13
Right to Vote 8.06 13
List of Shareholders Entitled to Notice 8.07 13
Meetings Without Notice 8.08 14
Waiver of Notice 8.09 14
Chairman, Secretary and Scrutineers 8.10 14
Persons Entitled to be Present 8.11 14
Quorum 8.12 15
Participation in Meeting 8.13 15
Proxyholders and Representatives 8.14 15
Time for Deposit of Proxies 8.15 15
Joint Shareholders 8.16 15
Votes to Govern 8.17 16
Conduct of Vote 8.18 16
Ballots 8.19 16
Adjournment 8.20 16
Resolution in Lieu of a Meeting 8.21 17
Only One Shareholder 8.22 17
TRANSFER OF SECURITIES    
Registration of Transfer 10.01 18
Transfer Agents and Registrar 10.02 18
Securities' Registers 10.03 18
Deceased Shareholders 10.04 19

 

 - iii -