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Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. AGM Information 2021

Apr 20, 2021

45544_rns_2021-04-20_1793ae9f-2bf9-4e87-924e-ffb0fc308386.pdf

AGM Information

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ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Be Held On May 19, 2021

NOTICE OF MEETING AND INFORMATION CIRCULAR

April 14, 2021

PINE CLIFF ENERGY LTD.

850, 1015 – 4[th] Street S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2R 1J4

NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF PINE CLIFF ENERGY LTD.

TAKE NOTICE that the Annual and Special Meeting (the “ Meeting ”) of the shareholders of PINE CLIFF ENERGY LTD. (the “ Corporation ”) will be held at the main office of Pine Cliff Energy Ltd., 8[th] Floor, 1015 4[th] Street S.W., Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. (Calgary time) for the purposes of:

  1. Receiving and considering the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and the related report of the auditor thereon;

  2. Electing the Corporation’s board of directors for the ensuing year;

  3. Appointing Deloitte LLP, Chartered Accountants, Calgary, Alberta as the auditors of the Corporation for the ensuing year and authorizing the Corporation’s board of directors to fix their remuneration;

  4. Considering an ordinary resolution to approve the Corporation’s unallocated options under the Stock Option Plan;

  5. Confirmation of the adoption of new By-Laws of the Corporation; and

  6. Transacting such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment to the Meeting.

The specific details of the matters proposed to be put before the Meeting are set forth in the management information circular dated April 14, 2021, accompanying, and forming part of, this notice and forming part hereof. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 14, 2021 are entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Due to restrictions on mass gatherings implemented by the Government of Alberta in response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak and out of concern for the wellbeing of all participants, shareholders and guests will not be permitted to physically attend the Meeting. Shareholders are encouraged to exercise their voting rights by mail, telephone or internet in advance of the Meeting. Shareholders can listen to the Meeting via teleconference by dialing locally in Toronto at 416-7648659, Calgary at 587-880-2171 or Toll Free at 1-888-664-6392 with the confirmation number 79236352. Please monitor the Corporation’s website at www.pinecliffenergy.com for Meeting updates if necessary.

Registered Shareholders are urged to transmit their voting instructions online at www.odysseytrust.com/login or to date and sign the enclosed form of proxy and return it, in the envelope provided, to Odyssey Trust Company, Stock Exchange Tower, 1230, 300 5[th] Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 3C4. In order to be valid and acted upon at the Meeting, voting instructions must be transmitted online or forms of proxy must be returned to the aforesaid address not less than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, preceding the date of the Meeting,

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or any adjournment thereof. Shareholders who do not hold common shares of the Corporation in their own name are strongly encouraged to complete the voting instruction forms received from their broker as soon as possible and to follow the instructions set out under “Notice to Beneficial Holders of Shares” in the accompanying Information Circular.

DATED at Calgary, Alberta, this 14th day of April, 2021.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(Signed) “Philip B. Hodge” Philip B. Hodge President and Chief Executive Officer

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PINE CLIFF ENERGY LTD. INFORMATION CIRCULAR

ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS May 19, 2021

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY MANAGEMENT

This management information circular dated April 14, 2021 (the “ Information Circular ”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the management of Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. (“ Pine Cliff ” or the “ Corporation ”) for use at the annual and special meeting of the holders (“ Shareholders ”) of common shares of the Corporation (“ Common Shares ”) to be held on Wednesday May 19, 2021, at 11:00 a.m., Calgary time (the “ Meeting ”) or at any adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in the notice of the Meeting (the “ Notice of Meeting ”) accompanying this Information Circular.

Enclosed with this Information Circular is a form of proxy (the “ Proxy Form ”) for use at the Meeting. A copy of the annual report, which includes the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, has previously been distributed to the Shareholders. The Shareholders are entitled to vote and are encouraged to participate in the Meeting.

This solicitation is made on behalf of the management of the Corporation. The costs incurred in the preparation and mailing of the Notice of Meeting, Proxy Form and this Information Circular will be borne by the Corporation. Management does not contemplate a solicitation of proxies other than by mail.

In accordance with National Instrument 54-101 Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (“ NI 54-101 ”), arrangements have been made with brokerage houses and other intermediaries, clearing agencies, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the Common Shares held of record by such persons and the Corporation may reimburse such persons for reasonable fees and disbursements incurred by them in doing so.

APPOINTMENT AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES

A Shareholder has the right to appoint a nominee, other than the persons designated in the Proxy Form (who does not need to be a Shareholder), to represent them at the Meeting, by inserting the name of their chosen nominee in the space provided for that purpose on the Proxy Form or by completing another proper Proxy Form. Such a Shareholder should notify the nominee of their appointment, obtain their consent to act as proxy and instruct them on how the Shareholder’s shares are to be voted. In any case, the Proxy Form should be dated and executed by the Shareholder or their attorney authorized in writing. Registered shareholders may also cast their vote online (www.odysseytrust.com/login) by following the instructions provided on the form. In light of the public health concerns related to COVID-19 and in order to comply with the measures imposed by the federal and provincial governments, the Corporation is not permitting Shareholders and others to attend the Meeting in person.

A Proxy Form will not be valid for the Meeting or any adjournment to the Meeting unless it is completed and received by Odyssey Trust Company, Stock Exchange Tower, 1230, 300 5th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 3C4 not less than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, preceding the date of the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof.

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In addition to revocation by any other manner permitted by law, a Shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it, by instrument in writing executed by the Shareholder or by their attorney authorized in writing or, if the Shareholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal or by an officer or attorney of the Corporation duly authorized and deposited at the registered office of the Corporation at Suite 850, 1015 – 4[th] Street S.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2R 1J4, Attention: Corporate Secretary, at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment to the Meeting, at which the proxy is to be used, or with the chairman of such Meeting on the date of the Meeting or any adjournment to the Meeting.

NOTICE TO BENEFICIAL HOLDERS OF SHARES

Only registered Shareholders (“ Registered Shareholders ”) or the persons they validly appoint as their proxies are permitted to vote at the Meeting. However, in many cases, Common Shares beneficially owned by a person (a “ Non-Registered Shareholder ”) are registered either: (i) in the name of an intermediary (an “ Intermediary ”) (including banks, trust companies, securities dealers or brokers and trustees or administrators of self-administered RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs and similar plans) that the Non-Registered Shareholder deals with in respect of the Common Shares; or (ii) in the name of a clearing agency (such as the Canadian Depository for Securities Limited), of which an Intermediary is a participant. In accordance with the requirements of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the Corporation will distribute copies of the Notice of Meeting, this Information Circular, and the Proxy Form to the clearing agencies and Intermediaries for onward distribution to Non-Registered Shareholders.

Existing regulatory policy requires brokers and other intermediaries to seek voting instructions from NonRegistered Shareholders in advance of Shareholder meetings. The various brokers and other intermediaries have their own mailing procedures and provide their own return instructions to clients, which should be carefully followed by Non-Registered Shareholders in order to ensure that their Common Shares are voted at the Meeting. The Proxy Form supplied to a Non-Registered Shareholder by its broker (or the agent of the broker) is substantially similar to the Proxy Form provided directly to Registered Shareholders by the Corporation. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the Registered Shareholder (i.e., the broker or agent of the broker) how to vote on behalf of the Non-Registered Shareholder. The vast majority of brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Financial Services, Inc. (“ Broadridge ”) in Canada. Broadridge typically prepares a machine-readable voting instruction form, mails the form to Non-Registered Shareholders and asks Non-Registered Shareholders to return the form to Broadridge, or otherwise communicate voting instructions to Broadridge (by way of the Internet or telephone, for example). Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of Common Shares to be represented at the Meeting. A NonRegistered Shareholder who receives a Broadridge voting instruction form cannot use that form to vote Common Shares directly at the Meeting. The voting instruction forms must be returned to Broadridge (or instructions respecting the voting of Common Shares must otherwise be communicated to Broadridge) well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the Common Shares voted. If you have any questions respecting the voting of Common Shares held through a broker or other intermediary, please contact that broker or other intermediary for assistance. Pine Cliff is sending proxy-related materials directly to non-objecting beneficial owners, pursuant to NI 54-101.

Although a Non-Registered Shareholder may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purposes of voting Common Shares registered in the name of their broker, a Non-Registered Shareholder may virtually attend the Meeting as proxyholder for the registered Shareholder and vote the Common Shares in that capacity. Non-Registered Shareholders who wish to virtually attend the Meeting and indirectly vote their Common Shares as proxyholder for the Registered Shareholder should enter their own names in the blank space on the Proxy Form or voting instruction form provided to them and return the

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same to their broker (or the broker’s agent) in accordance with the instructions provided by such broker.

VOTING OF PROXIES

The persons named in the Proxy Form are directors and/or officers of the Corporation and have indicated their willingness to represent as proxy the Shareholders who appoint them. Each Shareholder may instruct their proxy how to vote their Common Shares by completing the blanks on the Proxy Form.

Common Shares represented by a properly executed Proxy Form in favour of the persons designated on the Proxy Form will be voted for or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions made on the Proxy Form, on any ballot that may be called for and, if Shareholders specify a choice as to any matters to be acted upon, such Shareholders’ shares shall be voted accordingly. In the absence of such instructions or choices, such Common Shares will be voted in favour of all matters identified in the Notice of Meeting.

The Proxy Form confers discretionary authority upon the persons named with respect to amendments and variations to matters identified in the Notice of Meeting and with respect to any other matters which may properly come before the Meeting. The Common Shares represented by the proxy will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the person voting such shares. At the time of printing of this Information Circular, management knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters to come before the Meeting.

VOTING SHARES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SHARES

The Corporation is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares without nominal or par value and an unlimited number of Class B preferred shares, issuable in series (“ Preferred Shares ”). As of March 31, 2021, 335,759,095 Common Shares and no Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding. On all matters to be considered and acted upon at the Meeting, holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote for each Common Share held.

The Corporation’s board of directors (the “ Board ”) has fixed April 14, 2021 as the record date (the “ Record Date ”) for determining which Shareholders are entitled to receive the Notice of Meeting. A Shareholder of record at the close of business on the Record Date shall be entitled to vote the Common Shares registered in such Shareholder’s name on that date, except to the extent that: (a) such person transfers their Common Shares after the Record Date; and (b) the transferee of those Common Shares produces properly endorsed share certificates or otherwise establishes their ownership to the Common Shares, and makes a demand to the registrar and transfer agent of the Corporation, not later than 10 days before the Meeting, that their name be included on the Shareholders’ list.

To the knowledge of the directors and officers of the Corporation, as at April 14, 2021, no person or company beneficially owns or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, Common Shares carrying more than 10% of the votes which may be cast at the Meeting except as set out in the table below:

Name and Municipality of Residence
Robert Disbrow
Vancouver, British Columbia
Alberta Investment Management
Corporation
Edmonton, Alberta
Number of Common Shares
44,692,000
36,056,954
Percent
13.3%
10.7%
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QUORUM FOR MEETING

At the Meeting, a quorum shall consist of two or more persons either present in person or represented by proxy and representing in the aggregate not less than 5% of the outstanding Common Shares. Generally, if a quorum is not present at a Shareholders’ meeting within one half hour after the time fixed for the holding of such meeting, it shall stand adjourned to the same day of the following week. At such adjourned meeting, provided there are at least two Shareholders present, such Shareholders shall form a quorum.

MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON AT THE MEETING

To the knowledge of the Board, the only matters to be placed before the Meeting are those set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting and more particularly discussed below.

1. Consolidated Financial Statements

The audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the related report of the auditor will be placed before the Meeting. These financial statements and the auditor’s report are contained in the Corporation’s annual report which has previously been distributed to Shareholders.

2. Election of Directors

Pine Cliff’s Articles of Incorporation (“ Articles ”) provide for the Board to consist of a minimum of one and a maximum of 15 directors. The Articles permit the Board to appoint additional directors between annual meetings of Shareholders, provided that the total number of directors so appointed does not exceed, at any time, one-third of the number of directors who hold office immediately after the preceding annual meeting of Shareholders.

At the present time, Pine Cliff has five directors, being Messrs, George F. Fink, Philip B. Hodge, Randy M. Jarock, William S. Rice and Ms. Jacqueline R. Ricci. Pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), the current directors of the Corporation cease to hold office at the close of the Meeting. The Board currently considers five directors to be an appropriate size for effective oversight and decisionmaking in discharging its responsibilities. Mr. Jarock has, for personal reasons, advised the Chairman that he will not be standing for re-election at the Meeting.

At the Meeting, it is proposed that five persons be elected as directors of the Corporation, to serve until the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected or appointed. The Board is pleased to nominate Mr. Robert B. Fryk for election at the Meeting in addition to the nomination of Messrs. George F. Fink, Philip B. Hodge, William S. Rice and Ms. Jacqueline R. Ricci for re-election.

Mr. Fryk was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Gain Energy Ltd. (“ Gain ”) from February 2017 until March 2021, a private oil and gas company that sold all of its assets in 2020. Prior thereto, he was Chief Operating Officer at Gain and Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Velvet Energy Ltd. from 2011 to 2015. Mr. Fryk has over 37 years of experience in management, business development and operations, including oil and gas reservoir exploitation, drilling, completions, marketing and asset and corporate economic evaluations for acquisitions and divestments. Mr. Fryk has a Bachelor of Science – Chemical Engineering Degree from the University of Calgary and is a member of the Association of Petroleum Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.

The persons designated in the Proxy Form, unless instructed otherwise, intend to vote for the election of the following nominees. Management does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve

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as a director, but, if that should occur for any reason prior to the Meeting, the persons designated in the Proxy Form reserve the right to vote for other nominees in their discretion.

The names and municipalities of residence of the five persons nominated for election as directors of the Corporation, the number of Common Shares beneficially owned or controlled or directed at the date hereof, directly or indirectly, by each proposed director, the offices held by each proposed director in the Corporation, the period served as director of the Corporation and the present principal occupation of each proposed director for the past five years are as follows:

Name and Municipality
of Residence
Number Of Common
Shares Beneficially
Owned, Controlled or
Directed(1)
Time As Director Principal Occupation
JACQUELINE R. RICCI(2)
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
nil Director since 2020. Vice President and Director of J.
Zechner & Associates from 1997
topresent.
GEORGE F. FINK
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
25,019,529 Director since 2004. Chairman of the Board of Pine
Cliff and Chief Executive Officer
and director of Bonterra Energy
Corp. Mr. Fink was the Executive
Chairman of the Corporation from
January2012 to May2016.
PHILIP B. HODGE
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
6,929,391 Director since 2011. President and Chief Executive
Officer of Pine Cliff since January
2012.
ROBERT B. FRYK
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
nil New Nominee. President and Chief Executive
officer of Gain Energy from
February 2017 until March 2021
and prior thereto, Chief Operating
Officer from March 2016 to
January2017.
WILLIAM S. RICE, Q.C.(2)
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
415,000 Director since 2016. Private investor. Chair and Chief
Executive Officer of the Alberta
Securities Commission from 2005
to 2015 and Chair of the Canadian
Securities Administrators from
2011 to 2015.

Notes:

  • (1) The information as to the number of Common Shares beneficially owned or controlled by directors as at April 14, 2021, not being within the knowledge of the Corporation, has been furnished to the Corporation by the individual nominees.

  • (2) Members of Pine Cliff’s Audit Committee, Reserves Committee and Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee.

  • (3) Each of the Board Committees will be reconstituted following the Meeting.

Corporate Cease Trade Order or Bankruptcies

Other than as set forth below, none of those persons who are proposed directors of the Corporation is, or has been within the past ten years:

  • (a) a director or chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company, including the Corporation, that while such person was acting in that capacity, was the subject of a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the company access to any exemption under securities legislation, for a period of more than 30 consecutive days, or was subject to an event that resulted, after the proposed director ceased to be a director or chief executive officer or chief financial officer, in the company being the subject of a cease

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trade or similar order or an order that denied the company access to any exemption under securities legislation, for a period of more than 30 consecutive days; or

  • (b) a director or executive officer of any company, including the Corporation, that while acting in that capacity or within a year of that 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, or became personally bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or became subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangements or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the proposed director.

Mr. Fryk was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Gain Energy Ltd., a private oil and natural gas company, which filed a voluntary assignment in bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) on March 8, 2021.

None of those persons who are proposed directors of the Corporation has 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.

3.

Appointment of Auditors

At the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the Proxy Form to vote in favour of a resolution to appoint Deloitte LLP, Chartered Accountants, Calgary, Alberta, to serve as auditors of the Corporation until the next annual meeting of Shareholders and to authorize the Board to fix the remuneration of the auditors.

4. Approval of Unallocated Options under the Stock Option Plan

At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution approving all unallocated options under the Corporation’s Stock Option Plan (the “ Stock Option Plan ”). The approval is being sought in accordance with policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange (“ TSX ”).

Unallocated Options under the Stock Option Plan – Unallocated options under a stock option plan that does not have a fixed maximum number of securities issuable must be ratified by Shareholders every three years. The number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to the Stock Option Plan is limited to 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation, rather than a fixed number, and the Stock Option Plan has not been ratified by Shareholders since 2018. Accordingly, at the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution approving the unallocated options available under the Stock Option Plan. The terms and conditions of the Stock Option Plan are summarized under the heading “Executive Compensation – Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Compensation Elements – Stock Option Plan”.

A copy of the Stock Option Plan is attached hereto as Schedule “B”.

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As at March 31, 2021, 23,449,243 options to acquire Common Shares were outstanding, representing 7.0% of the 335,759,095 Common Shares issued and outstanding, leaving 10,126,666 Common Shares representing 3.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares available to be reserved for future option allocations. At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought appropriate, approve, an ordinary resolution approving the unallocated options under the Stock Option Plan. The ordinary resolution must be approved by a majority vote of the Shareholders. Unless otherwise directed, it is the intention of the management designees to vote proxies in the accompanying form in favour of this ordinary resolution.

If approval is obtained at the Meeting, the Corporation will not be required to seek further approval of the grant of unallocated options until 2024. If the resolution approving the unallocated options under the Stock Option Plan is not approved, previously granted options will continue and not be affected; however, in such circumstances, additional options may not be granted and previously granted options will not be available for re-allocation if they are exercised or cancelled.

The text of the ordinary resolution to be considered at the Meeting is as follows:

BE IT RESOLVED as an ordinary resolution that:

  1. all unallocated options, rights or other entitlements under the Stock Option Plan be and are hereby approved;

  2. the Corporation is hereby authorized to continue granting options under the Stock Option Plan until May 19, 2024, being the date that is three years from the date of this resolution; and

  3. any director or officer of the Corporation is authorized and directed, on behalf of the Corporation, to take all necessary steps and proceedings and to execute, deliver and file any and all declarations, agreements, documents and other instruments and do all such other acts and things (whether under corporate seal of the Corporation or otherwise) that may be necessary or desirable to give effect to this resolution.”

5. Confirmation of the Adoption of New By-Laws

Effective April 7, 2021, the Board adopted new by-laws (the “ New By-Laws ”). The adoption of the New By-Laws must be ratified by the Shareholders at the Meeting to continue to have effect. The following is a summary of the amendment to the “Advance Notice” by-law and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the New By-Laws attached hereto as Schedule “C”. Shareholders are urged to review the New By-laws in their entirety.

Purpose of New By-Laws

The New By-Laws contain advance notice provisions, which provide Shareholders, the Board and the Corporation’s management with a clear framework for the nomination of directors to ensure that shareholders will have sufficient time and information to consider proposed director nominees and to ensure for the orderly conduct of business at our Shareholder meetings.

Summary of Terms of the New By-laws

The New By-Laws set forth a procedure requiring advance notice to the Corporation by any Shareholder who intends to nominate a person for election as a director of the Corporation other than pursuant to:

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  • (i) a requisition of a meeting made pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) (the “ ABCA ”) ; or

  • (ii) a shareholder proposal made pursuant to the provisions of the ABCA.

Among other things, the New By-Laws set a deadline by which such Shareholders must notify the Corporation in writing of an intention to nominate directors prior to any meeting of Shareholders at which directors are to be elected and specify the information that a nominating Shareholder must include in the notice in order for director nominees to be eligible for nomination and election at the meeting. In the case of an annual meeting of Shareholders, notice to the Corporation must be made not less than 30 days prior to the date of the annual meeting of Shareholders; provided, however, that if the annual meeting of Shareholders is to be held on a date that is less than 50 days after the date on which the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting was made, notice may be made not later than the close of business on the tenth day following such public announcement. In the case of a special meeting (which is not also an annual meeting) of Shareholders called for any purpose including the election of directors, notice to the Corporation must be made not later than the close of business on the 15[th] day following the date on which the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting of Shareholders was made. In the event of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting of Shareholders or any announcement thereof, a new time period shall commence for the giving of timely notice.

- Confirmation and Approval of New By Laws by Shareholders

In accordance with the ABCA, the New By-Laws are in effect until they are confirmed, confirmed as amended or rejected by Shareholders at the Meeting, and if confirmed or confirmed as amended, the New By-Laws will continue in effect in the form in which they are so confirmed. If Shareholders do not confirm the New By-Laws at the Meeting, they will cease to have effect from thereon. For greater certainty, and with reference to section 13 of the New By-laws, the Corporation’s existing by-laws will continue in effect, unamended.

A copy of the New By-Laws is attached hereto as Schedule “C”.

The text of the ordinary resolution to be considered at the Meeting is as follows:

BE IT RESOLVED as an ordinary resolution that:

  1. the By-Law No. 2 providing, among other things, for advance notice of nominations of directors of the Corporation, in the form attached as Schedule “C” and as described under the heading “Matters to be Acted Upon at the Meeting – Confirmation of the Adoption of New ByLaws” in the Management Information Circular of Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. (the “ Corporation ”) dated April 14, 2021, is hereby ratified and confirmed as a by-law of the Corporation;

  2. notwithstanding that this resolution has been passed by the holders of common shares of the Corporation, the Board is hereby authorized and empowered, to revoke this resolution, without any further approval of the Shareholders, at any time if such revocation is considered necessary or advisable by the Directors; and

  3. any director or officer of the Corporation is authorized and directed, on behalf of the Corporation, to take all necessary steps and proceedings and to execute, deliver and file any and all declarations, agreements, documents and other instruments and do all such other acts and things (whether under corporate seal of the Corporation or otherwise) that may be necessary or desirable to give effect to this resolution.”

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In order to be passed, the foregoing ordinary resolution must be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast by Shareholders who vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting.

6. Other Matters to be Acted Upon

The Corporation knows of no other matters to be brought before the Meeting. If any amendment, variation or other business is properly brought before the Meeting, the enclosed form of proxy and voting instruction confers discretion on the persons named on the form of proxy to vote on such matters.

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

Management of the Corporation is not aware of any material interest of any director, executive officer, nominee for election as a director of the Corporation or of any associate or affiliate of any of those persons in respect of any matter to be acted on at the Meeting, except as specifically provided herein.

INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS

Management of the Corporation is not aware of any material interests, direct or indirect, of any “informed person” (as defined in National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations ) of the Corporation, any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation or any associate or affiliate of any such person or proposed nominee in any transaction since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year, or in any proposed transaction, that has materially affected or would materially affect the Corporation.

INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

No current or proposed director, executive officer or employee of the Corporation, or any former director, executive officer or employee of the Corporation, or any associate of any of the foregoing, is, or has been at any time during the most recently completed financial year, indebted to the Corporation, either in connection with the purchase of the Corporation’s securities or otherwise.

STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Named Executive Officers

Set out below are the particulars of compensation paid to the following persons (the “ Named Executive Officers ”):

  • a) the Corporation’s chief executive officer;

  • b) the Corporation’s chief financial officer;

  • c) each of the three most highly compensated Named Executive Officers of the Corporation, including any of its subsidiaries, or the three most highly compensated individuals acting in a similar capacity or other management role, other than the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, at the end of the most recently completed financial year whose total compensation was, individually, more than $150,000, as determined in accordance with subsection 1.3(6) of Form 51-102F6 Statement of Executive Compensation , for that financial year; and

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  • d) each individual who would be a Named Executive Officer under paragraph (c) but for the fact that the individual was neither an executive officer of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, nor acting in a similar capacity, at the end of that financial year.

During the financial year ended December 31, 2020, the Corporation had five Named Executive Officers, being Philip Hodge, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alan MacDonald, Chief Financial Officer, Terry McNeill, Chief Operating Officer, Heather Isidoro, Vice President Business Development and Christopher Lee, Vice President Geology.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Compensation Governance

The Board is responsible for setting the overall compensation strategy of the Corporation and overseeing and reviewing the Corporation’s executive compensation program. As part of its mandate, the Board approves the appointment of the Corporation’s executive officers and the remuneration of the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (“ CEO ”). In addition, the Board will review and approve recommendations of the CEO relating to the general compensation structure and policies and programs for the Corporation and the salary and benefit levels for the Corporation’s executive officers.

All of the members of the Board have direct experience that is relevant to their responsibilities in executive compensation, as they have each managed executives and/or business leaders in their current and/or past roles. In these roles, they have participated in compensation planning sessions, made compensation decisions and participated in compensation discussions with and without the use of external consultants.

No consultants have been hired by the Board for setting compensation levels in 2020; however, comparatives to peers in similar positions and similar roles have been considered. Base salaries for officers, including the CEO, are established at levels comparable to base salaries paid by the Corporation’s industry peer group. In assessing comparability, the Corporation relies upon a review of base salary amounts as disclosed by industry peers in their public disclosure documents. The peer group for benchmarking considered by the Board consists of other oil and gas exploration and development companies with similar size, financial capacity and business complexity, including Bonterra Energy Corp., Cardinal Energy Ltd., Crew Energy Inc., Gear Energy Ltd., Journey Energy Inc., Perpetual Energy Inc., Petrus Resources Ltd., Pieridae Energy Limited, Pipestone Energy Corp., Storm Resources Ltd., Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd. and Yangarra Resources Ltd. Consideration is given to the time period evaluated in industry surveys and public data and to the business climate applicable at the time with respect to industry demand for experienced personnel. Salaries of officers, including that of the CEO, are reviewed annually.

Compensation Elements

The objective of the Corporation’s executive compensation program is to attract, motivate, reward and retain talent that is needed to achieve the Corporation’s business objectives. The compensation program is designed to ensure that compensation is competitive with companies of similar size and is commensurate with the experience, performance and contribution of the individuals involved and the overall performance of the Corporation.

The Pine Cliff executive compensation program is comprised of the following principal components:

  • a) base salary;

  • b) short-term incentive compensation comprised of discretionary cash bonuses based on both corporate and individual performance; and

  • 13 -

c) long-term incentive compensation comprised of stock options, as defined herein.

Base Salaries

Executive officers are paid a base salary to compensate them for providing the leadership and specific skills needed to fulfill their responsibilities. These base salaries are reviewed annually by Pine Cliff’s Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee (“ GNCC ”) and consideration is given to, among other things, level of responsibility, experience and expertise of the individuals being reviewed. Salaries of the executive officers are not determined based on benchmarks or a specific formula, although comparable salaries at similar sized companies in the oil and gas industry are considered. The Board, upon the recommendation of the GNCC, determines the salary of the CEO and considers, and if thought appropriate, approves salaries recommended by the CEO for the other executive officers of the Corporation. The CEO approves the salaries for the employees of the Corporation and these are also reviewed by the GNCC.

Bonus Plan

The Board, upon recommendation of the GNCC, approves bonus payments to reward executive officers for their contribution to the achievement of corporate accomplishments in carrying out the strategy and vision of Pine Cliff. The bonus pool currently available for distribution to the Corporation’s employees consists of a range from 3.00 to 5.50 percent of adjusted funds flow (cash flow from operating activities before adjusting for changes in non-cash working capital and decommissioning obligations settled). The Board, upon recommendation of the GNCC, will determine for each bonus period the percentage of the bonus pool to be set within that range. Typically, Pine Cliff has historically paid a bonus twice a year, generally in November for the first three quarters of the year and in March for the previous years’ fourth quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the bonus was only paid once, in March 2021. The Board, upon recommendation of the GNCC, determines the bonus of the CEO. The Board considers, and if thought appropriate, approves the bonuses recommended by the CEO for the other executive officers of the Corporation. The CEO approves the bonuses for the employees of the Corporation and these are also reviewed by the GNCC.

Stock Option Plan

The Corporation has adopted the Stock Option Plan pursuant to which options (“ Options ”) to purchase Common Shares may be granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Corporation. The Stock Option Plan is an integral component of the Corporation’s total compensation program in terms of attracting and retaining key employees and enhances shareholder value by aligning the interests of executives and employees with the growth and profitability of the Corporation. The longer-term focus of the Stock Option Plan complements and balances the other shorter-term elements of the compensation program of the Corporation.

In determining the number of Options to be granted to individuals, the Board, on the recommendation of the GNCC, considers the amount, terms and vesting levels of existing Options held by the individuals and also the number of Options remaining available for grant by the Corporation in the future to attract and retain other management, technical and administrative staff. Generally, the number of Options granted to any optionee is a function of the level of authority and responsibility of the optionee, the contribution that has been made, and is anticipated to be made, by the optionee to the business and affairs of the Corporation, the number of Options that have already been granted to the optionee and such other factors as the GNCC may consider relevant. The Board, upon recommendation of the GNCC, determines the number of Options to be granted to the CEO and considers, and if thought appropriate, approves Option grants recommended by the CEO for the other executive officers, employees and consultants of the Corporation.

  • 14 -

The aggregate number of Common Shares that may be available for issuance under the Stock Option Plan shall not exceed 10 percent of the total number of Common Shares outstanding (on a non-diluted basis) at the time of grant. Directors, management, employees and consultants of the Corporation who, in the judgment of the Board, the GNCC and the CEO, will contribute to its future growth and success, are eligible to participate in the Stock Option Plan. The exercise price per Common Share shall not be lower than the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on the last trading day preceding the date of grant. In the event that the Common Shares are listed for trading on the TSX and no trades of the Common Shares have taken place on the TSX on any trading day within a five-day period immediately preceding the date of grant, the GNCC may, in its sole discretion subject to TSX approval, select as the exercise price per Common Share the weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the TSX over the last ten trading days on which the Common Shares traded on the TSX immediately preceding the date of the grant. The term of an Option shall not be less than one year and not more than five years from the date of grant. Unless otherwise specified, Options vest as to one-third of the entitlement each year following the date of grant.

Options are exercisable only during the term of employment or service of an employee, consultant, director or officer when the optionee is considered to be an “Eligible Participant” under the Stock Option Plan. In the event of termination of employment with cause, no Option may be exercised following the date on which the optionee ceases to be an Eligible Participant. In the event of death of an optionee, any vested Option held by the optionee shall be exercisable, if the Option was issued ten days or more prior to the date of death, to the person or persons the rights under the Option shall pass to by law for a period of 60 days after the date of death or prior to the expiration of the Option, whichever is sooner. If an optionee ceases to be an Eligible Participant for any other reason than the above, including termination without cause, any vested Option may be exercised for a period of 10 days after the date the optionee ceases to be an Eligible Participant. All benefits, rights and options accruing to any Eligible Participant shall not be assignable or transferable, other than in the event of death.

The issuance of Common Shares under the Stock Option Plan to any one Eligible Participant in any 12 month period shall not exceed 5% for employees, directors and officers and 2% for consultants, respectively, of the issued Common Shares (on a non-diluted basis) at the time of grant of any Option (including the Common Shares that are subject to such Option). In addition, the issuance of Common Shares under the Stock Option Plan to all Eligible Participants conducting Investor Relations Activities (as defined in the Stock Option Plan), in any 12 month period shall not exceed 2% of the issued Common Shares (on a non-diluted basis) at the time of grant of any Option (including the Common Shares that are subject to such Option) and, the issuance of Common Shares under the Stock Option Plan to insiders issued within any 12 month period and issuable at any time, under all security based compensation arrangements, shall not exceed 10% of issued and outstanding Common Shares (on a non-diluted basis).

The Board reserves the right to amend, modify or terminate the Stock Option Plan at any time without shareholder approval subject to the rules of the TSX. Any amendment to any provision of the Stock Option Plan shall be subject to approval, if required, by the TSX or any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the securities of the Corporation, and, if required, by the Shareholders in the manner prescribed by the TSX or any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Corporation from time to time.

As of December 31, 2020, 25,561,498 Options were outstanding which represents 7.6% of the 335,284,193 Common Shares issued and outstanding. As of December 31, 2020, 7,966,921 Options remained available for future issuance.

In 2020 there were 8,656,850 Options granted with a weighted average number of Common Shares issued and outstanding of 330,284,193, which resulted in a burn rate of 2.6%; in 2019 there were 13,137,907

  • 15 -

Options granted, which resulted in a burn rate of 4.1%; and in 2018 there were 7,697,800 Options granted, which resulted in a burn rate of 2.5%.

Risks Associated with Compensation Policies and Practices

The oversight and administration of the Corporation’s executive compensation program require the Board and the GNCC to consider risks associated with the Corporation’s compensation policies and practices. Potential risks associated with compensation policies and compensation awards are considered at annual reviews and also throughout the year whenever it is deemed necessary by the GNCC.

Key considerations regarding risk management include the following:

  • design of the compensation program to ensure all executives are compensated equally based on the same or, depending on the mandate and term of appointment of that particular executive, substantially equivalent performance goals;

  • balance of short-term performance initiatives with equity based awards that vest over time;

  • ensuring overall expense to the Corporation of the compensation program does not represent a disproportionate percentage of the Corporation’s revenues, after giving consideration to the development stage of the Corporation; and

  • utilizing compensation policies that do not rely solely on the specific accomplishment of specific tasks without consideration to longer term risks and objectives.

For the reasons set forth below, the GNCC believes that the Corporation’s current executive compensation policies and practices achieve an appropriate balance in relation to the Corporation’s overall business strategy and do not encourage executives to expose the Corporation to inappropriate or excessive risks. The base salaries set for the Corporation’s executives are intended to provide a steady income regardless of Common Share price performance, allowing executives to focus on both near-term and long-term goals and objectives without undue reliance on short-term Common Share price performance or market fluctuations.

While a significant feature of the Corporation’s current executive compensation practice is the awarding of Options under the Stock Option Plan, and while such compensation is “at risk” (i.e. not guaranteed), the Corporation’s long-term incentive plans are designed such that Options vest over a three year period and therefore encourage sustainable Common Share price appreciation and reduce the risk of actions which may have short-term advantages.

Compensation payable in the form of bonuses is overseen by the GNCC and the Board. The Board does not consider the applicable periods set for bonus purposes to be heavily weighted to the short-term and believes it has struck an appropriate balance between short-term performance incentives and long-term awards that vest over time.

Financial Instruments

The Corporation does not have a policy that would prohibit a Named Executive Officer or director from personally purchasing financial instruments, including prepaid variable 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 Named Executive Officer or director. Such investments will be at the sole risk of the executive officer or director and the Corporation will not be at any risk. Management is not aware of any Named Executive Officer or director purchasing any such instruments related to the Common Shares.

  • 16 -

Performance Graph

The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in the cumulative shareholder return over the last five years of the Common Shares (assuming a $100 investment was made on December 31, 2015) and the cumulative total return of the S&P/TSX Composite Index and the TSX Energy Index.

==> picture [409 x 216] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN ON $100 INVESTMENT
$160
$140
$120
$100
$80
$60
$40
$20
$-
12/31/2015 12/31/2016 12/31/2017 12/31/2018 12/31/2019 12/31/2020
Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. TSX Composite Index TSX Capped Energy Index
----- End of picture text -----

12/31/2015 12/31/2016 12/31/2017 12/31/2018 12/31/2019 12/31/2020
Pine Cliff
EnergyLtd.
$100.00 $121.51 $49.46 $26.88 $16.13 $24.73
TSX
Composite
Index
$100.00 $117.51 $124.59 $110.09 $131.16 $134.00
TSX Capped
EnergyIndex
$100.00 $139.64 $124.82 $91.66 $100.59 $65.75

Total Shareholder Return (“ TSR ”) and Its Relationship with Executive Compensation

Executive compensation is defined as the aggregate of base salary, annual bonuses (if any), stock options, and any other miscellaneous types of benefits that may periodically be granted to an executive. When the Board determines overall compensation, it considers a number of factors and performance elements. Although TSR is one performance measure that is reviewed, it is not the only consideration. As a result, a direct correlation between TSR over a given period and executive compensation levels is not anticipated.

  • 17 -

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth a summary of the annual and long-term compensation for services paid for the three most recently completed financial years for individuals who were Named Executive Officers during the year ended December 31, 2020.

Name and principal
**position **
**Year ** Salary ($) Share-
based
awards ($)
Option-based
awards ($)
Non-equity incentive plan
compensation
($)
Non-equity incentive plan
compensation
($)
Pension
value
($)
All other
compensation
($)(8)
Total
compensation
($)
Annual
incentive
plans(7)
Long
term
incentive
plans
Philip B. Hodge,
President and
Chief Executive
Officer
2020
2019
2018
315,000
315,000
300,000
nil
nil
nil
78,116(1)
113,943(2)
115,174(3)
37,480
25,300
52,800
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
430,596
454,243
467,974
Terry L. McNeill,
Chief Operating
Officer
2020
2019
2018
250,000
250,000
240,000
nil
nil
nil
46,869(1)
68,366(2)
69,104(3)
20,820
14,100
29,950
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
317,689
332,466
339,054
Alan MacDonald,
Chief Financial
Officer and
Corporate
Secretary(5)
2020
2019
2018
200,000
16,667
147,502
nil
nil
nil
17,576(1)
21,216(4)
10,969(3)
990
-
6,500
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
218,566
37,883
164,971
Heather A.
Isidoro(6)
2020
2019
2018
185,000
185,000
180,000
nil
nil
nil
26,039(1)
37,981(2)
38,391(3)
9,910
7,600
16,550
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
220,949
230,581
234,941
Christopher S.
Lee
2020
2019
2018
185,000
185,000
175,000
nil
nil
nil
26,039(1)
37,981(2)
38,391(3)
9,910
8,900
16,750
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
nil
220,949
231,881
230,141

Notes:

  • (1) The value of the option-based awards granted on May 21, 2020 is based on an exercise price of $0.145 and is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing methodology using the following weighted average key assumptions: estimated volatility of underlying Common Shares of 69.6%, expected life of 3.0 years, risk-free rate of 0.30%, forfeiture rate of 3.9%, and expected dividend yield of 0%.

  • (2) The value of the option-based awards granted on May 16, 2019 and November 8, 2019 are based on an exercise price of $0.21 and $0.145, respectively, and calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing methodology using the following weighted average key assumptions: estimated volatility of underlying Common Shares of 51% and 55.1%, expected life of 3.0 years for both, risk-free rate of 1.57% for both, forfeiture rate of 3.9% for both, and expected dividend yield of 0% for both.

  • (3) The value of the option-based awards granted on May 15, 2018 is based on an exercise price of $0.33 and is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing methodology using the following weighted average key assumptions: estimated volatility of underlying Common Shares of 50%, expected life of 3.0 years, risk-free rate of 2.12%, forfeiture rate of 3.9%, and expected dividend yield of 0%.

  • (4) The value of the option-based awards granted on December 2, 2019 is based on an exercise price of $0.145 and is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing methodology using the following weighted average key assumptions: estimated volatility of underlying Common Shares of 55%, expected life of 3.0 years, risk-free rate of 1.58%, forfeiture rate of 3.9%, and expected dividend yield of 0%.

  • (5) Mr. MacDonald was Interim Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary from September 18, 2017 to September 21, 2018. Mr. MacDonald was appointed Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary on December 4, 2019.

  • (6) Ms. Isidoro took a leave of absence on October 6, 2020 and left the Company effective January 11, 2021.

  • (7) Payments consist solely of amounts awarded under the Company’s bonus plan.

  • (8) The value of perquisites and benefits for each Named Executive Officer is less than 10% of each Named Executive Officer’s total salary for the financial year.

  • 18 -

Incentive Plan Awards

Outstanding Option-Based Awards

The following table sets forth information in respect of all option-based awards outstanding at the end of the financial year ended December 31, 2020 to the Named Executive Officers of the Corporation.

The process that the Corporation uses to grant Options to the Named Executive Officers, and the factors that are taken into account when considering new grants under the Stock Option Plan, is based upon a number of criteria, including the responsibility level of the Named Executive Officers, the number of Options available for grant under the Stock Option Plan, the number of Options anticipated to be required to meet the future needs of the Corporation, as well as the number of Options previously granted to each of the Named Executive Officers.

The Board, upon recommendation of the GNCC, determines the Options granted to the CEO. The Board considers, and if thought appropriate, approves the bonuses recommended by the CEO for the other Named Officers. The CEO approves the grants of Options to the other employees of the Corporation, and these are also reviewed by the GNCC.

It is the full Board, as opposed to only the GNCC, which determines the need for any amendments to the Stock Option Plan. The grant of option-based awards is not determined based on benchmarks, performance goals or a specific formula.

  • 19 -
Option-based Awards
Name Number of securities
underlying unexercised
options
(#)
Option
exercise price
($)
Option expiration date Value of unexercised
in-the-money options
($)(1)
Philip B. Hodge 400,000
400,000
400,000
275,000
275,000
275,000
340,000
340,000
340,000
210,000
350,000
350,000
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.21
0.21
0.21
0.79
0.33
0.33
May 21, 2022
May 21, 2023
May 21, 2024
Nov 08, 2021
Nov 08, 2022
Nov 08, 2023
May 16, 2021
May 16, 2022
May 16, 2023
May 18, 2021
May 15, 2021
May15,2022
32,000
32,000
32,000
22,000
22,000
22,000
5,100
5,100
5,100
nil
nil
nil
Terry L. McNeill 240,000
240,000
240,000
165,000
165,000
165,000
204,000
204,000
204,000
150,000
210,000
210,000
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.21
0.21
0.21
0.79
0.33
0.33
May 21, 2022
May 21, 2023
May 21, 2024
Nov 08, 2021
Nov 08, 2022
Nov 08, 2023
May 16, 2021
May 16, 2022
May 16, 2023
May 18, 2021
May 15, 2021
May15,2022
19,200
19,200
19,200
13,200
13,200
13,200
3,060
3,060
3,060
nil
nil
nil
Alan MacDonald 90,000
90,000
90,000
140,000
140,000
140,000
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
May 21, 2022
May 21, 2023
May 21, 2024
Dec 02, 2021
Dec 02, 2022
Dec 02,2023
7,200
7,200
7,200
11,200
11,200
11,200
Heather A. Isidoro 133,333
133,333
133,334
91,667
91,667
91,666
113,333
113,333
113,334
83,334
116,667
116,666
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.21
0.21
0.21
0.79
0.33
0.33
May 21, 2022
May 21, 2023
May 21, 2024
Nov 08, 2021
Nov 08, 2022
Nov 08, 2023
May 16, 2021
May 16, 2022
May 16, 2023
May 18, 2021
May 15, 2021
May15,2022
10,667
10,667
10,667
7,333
7,333
7,333
1,700
1,700
1,700
nil
nil
nil
Christopher S. Lee 133,333
133,333
133,334
91,667
91,667
91,666
113,333
113,333
113,334
50,000
116,667
116,666
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.21
0.21
0.21
0.79
0.33
0.33
May 21, 2022
May 21, 2023
May 21, 2024
Nov 08, 2021
Nov 08, 2022
Nov 08, 2023
May 16, 2021
May 16, 2022
May 16, 2023
May 18, 2021
May 15, 2021
May15,2022
10,667
10,667
10,667
7,333
7,333
7,333
1,700
1,700
1,700
nil
nil
nil

Notes:

(1) Value is calculated based on the difference between the exercise price of the Options and the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on December 31, 2020 of $0.225.

  • 20 -

Incentive Plan Awards – Value Vested or Earned During the Year

The following table sets forth information relating to the value vested or earned during the Corporation’s financial year ended December 31, 2020 in respect of option-based awards and non-equity incentive plan compensation for Named Executive Officers of the Corporation.

Name Option-based awards –
Value vested during the
year
($)
Share-based awards –
Value vested during
the year
($)
Non-equity incentive plan
compensation – Value earned
during the year
($)
PhilipB. Hodge 42,675 nil 37,480
TerryL. McNeill 25,575 nil 20,820
Alan MacDonald 15,400 nil 990
Heather A. Isidoro 14,208 nil 9,910
Christopher S. Lee 14,208 nil 9,910

Pension Plan Benefits

Pine Cliff does not have a pension plan or similar benefit program.

Termination and Change of Control Benefits

The Corporation has no written contract, agreement, plan or arrangement that provides for payments or benefits to Named Executive Officers in connection with any termination, resignation, retirement, change of control of the Corporation or change in the responsibilities of the Named Executive Officer, except for provisions of the Stock Option Plan which provide for the exercise of unvested Options in the event of a change of control of the Corporation. The value of unvested Options held by Named Executive Officers at December 31, 2020 (based on the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on December 31, 2020) was $457,080.

Director Compensation for Directors who are Not Named Executive Officers of the Corporation

Director Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information in respect of all amounts of compensation provided to the directors who were not Named Executive Officers during the Corporation’s financial year ended December 31, 2020.

Each non-executive director is paid an annual retainer of $50,000. Executive officers of the Corporation, who also act as directors of the Corporation, do not receive any additional compensation for services rendered in such capacity, other than as paid by the Corporation to such executive officers in their capacity as executive officers. There is no formal policy for the granting of Options to directors. Options may be granted from time to time as approved by the Board as recommended by the GNCC.

  • 21 -
Name Fees earned
($)
Share-
based
awards
($)
Option-based
awards
($)
Non-equity
incentive plan
compensation
($)
Pension
value
($)
All other
compensation
($)
Total
($)
GaryJ. Drummond 19,355 nil nil nil n/a nil 19,355
George F. Fink 50,000 nil 28,642(1) nil n/a nil 78,642
RandyM. Jarock 50,000 nil 22,341(1) nil n/a nil 72,341
William S. Rice 50,000 nil 22,341(1) nil n/a nil 72,341
Jacqueline R. Ricci 30,645 nil 22,341(1) nil n/a nil 52,986

Notes:

(1) The value of the option-based awards granted on May 21, 2020 are based on an exercise price of $0.145, and calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing methodology using the following weighted average key assumptions: estimated volatility of underlying Common Shares of 69.6%, expected life of 3.0 years, risk-free rate of 0.30%, forfeiture rate of 3.9%, and expected dividend yield of 0%.

Outstanding Option-Based Awards

The following table sets forth information in respect of all option-based awards outstanding at the end of the financial year ended December 31, 2020 to the directors of the Corporation who were not Named Executive Officers.

Option-based Awards
Name Number of securities
underlying
unexercised options
(#)
Option exercise price
($)
Option expiration
date
Value of unexercised
in-the-money
options
($)(1)
George F. Fink 146,667
146,667
146,666
100,833
100,833
100,834
124,667
124,667
124,666
90,000
128,333
128,334
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.21
0.21
0.21
0.79
0.33
0.33
May 21, 2022
May 21, 2023
May 21, 2024
Nov 08, 2021
Nov 08, 2022
Nov 08, 2023
May 16, 2021
May 16, 2022
May 16, 2023
May 18, 2021
May 15, 2021
May15,2022
11,733
11,733
11,733
8,067
8,067
8,067
1,870
1,870
1,870
nil
nil
nil
Randy M. Jarock 114,400
114,400
114,400
78,650
78,650
78,650
97,240
97,240
97,240
70,000
100,100
100,100
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.21
0.21
0.21
0.79
0.33
0.33
May 21, 2022
May 21, 2023
May 21, 2024
Nov 08, 2021
Nov 08, 2022
Nov 08, 2023
May 16, 2021
May 16, 2022
May 16, 2023
May 18, 2021
May 15, 2021
May 15, 2022
9,152
9,152
9,152
6,292
6,292
6,292
1,459
1,459
1,459
nil
nil
nil
William S. Rice 114,400
114,400
114,400
78,650
78,650
78,650
97,240
97,240
97,240
70,000
100,100
100,100
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.145
0.21
0.21
0.21
0.79
0.33
0.33
May 21, 2022
May 21, 2023
May 21, 2024
Nov 08, 2021
Nov 08, 2022
Nov 08, 2023
May 16, 2021
May 16, 2022
May 16, 2023
May 18, 2021
May 15, 2021
May15,2022
9,152
9,152
9,152
6,292
6,292
6,292
1,459
1,459
1,459
nil
nil
nil
Jacqueline R. Ricci 114,400
114,400
114,400
0.145
0.145
0.145
May 21, 2022
May 21, 2023
May21,2024
9,152
9,152
9,152
  • 22 -

Notes:

(1) Value is calculated based on the difference between the exercise price of the Options and the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on December 31, 2020 of $0.225.

Incentive Plan Awards – Value Vested or Earned During the Year

The following table sets forth information in respect of the value vested or earned during the Corporation’s financial year ended December 31, 2020 of option-based awards, share-based awards and non-equity incentive plan compensation for non-executive directors of the Corporation.

Name Option-based
awards – Value
vested during the
year
($)
Share-based awards – Value
vested during the year
($)
Non-equity incentive plan
compensation – Value earned
during the year
($)
GaryJ. Drummond nil nil nil
George F. Fink 15,629 nil nil
RandyM. Jarock 12,191 nil nil
William S. Rice 12,191 nil nil
Jacqueline R. Ricci nil nil nil

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

As of December 31, 2020, equity securities are authorized for issuance as follows:

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
($)
Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans (excluding
securities reflected in column (a))
Equity compensation plans
approved by security
holders - Stock Option Plan
25,561,498 0.22 7,966,921(1)
Equity compensation plans not
approved bysecurityholders
nil nil nil
Total 25,561,498 0.22 7,966,921

Notes:

(1) The Stock Option Plan reserves for issuance a maximum of 10% of the 327,784,193 Common Shares outstanding at December 31, 2020.

DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES

Under National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices , the Corporation is required to include in this Information Circular the disclosure required under Form 58-101F1 with respect to the corporate governance guidelines set out under National Policy 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines .

Board of Directors

The Board is responsible for supervising the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and is presently comprised of five directors, of which four are independent. The independent directors are Ms. Ricci and Messrs. Jarock, Rice and Fink. Mr. Fink is currently the Chairman of the Board (the “ Chairman ”) and was the former Executive Chairman of the Board of the Corporation until 2016. Mr. Fink does not currently serve on any of the Board’s committees. The President and Chief Executive Officer of the

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Corporation, Mr. Hodge, is not independent as he has been an executive officer of the Corporation in the past three years.

The Board facilitates its exercise of independent supervision over management by having the option to hold in camera sessions at the end or during meetings of the Board or its committees, whereby the members of management of the Corporation and the non-independent directors of the Corporation who are present at such meeting are asked to leave the meeting in order for the independent directors to meet. Whether such in camera sessions occur is at the sole discretion of the independent directors.

During the most recently completed financial year, the independent directors of the Corporation were given the opportunity to hold in camera meetings without the non-independent director and members of management present at all seven scheduled meetings of the Board, of which they chose to have in camera meetings at six of them. In order to provide leadership for the independent directors, the Board encourages communication among the independent directors both inside and outside of the scheduled Board and its committee meetings.

Certain of the Corporation’s directors serve as directors of other reporting issuers as indicated in the table below.

Director
Jacqueline R. Ricci
George F. Fink
Randy M. Jarock
Directorships Held
Bonterra Energy Corp.
Bonterra Energy Corp.
Bonterra Energy Corp.

Directors and officers of the Corporation are required to immediately report any event that may give rise to a conflict of interest situation to the CEO. Any potential conflict of interest must be reported and documented at the next meeting of the Board. A director of the Corporation may not vote on any matter where a conflict of interest exists. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Corporation entered into a lending agreement to establish a $4.0 million borrowing facility with the Chairman, whereby the Chairman agreed to provide up to $4.0 million of borrowings at an interest rate of 6.5% per annum. The Chairman negotiated the terms at arm’s length with the Corporation and the terms were reviewed and agreed to by the Board, with the Chairman abstaining from the vote. If a conflict exists that cannot be effectively managed, the Board may require the director to resign from any specific position giving rise to the conflict of interest, or alternatively, may require the director to resign from the Board.

The following is a summary of the attendance of the directors at meetings of the Board and its committees for 2020:

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Name Board of
Directors
Audit Committee Reserves
Committee
GNCC
George F. Fink 7/7 - - -
Philip B. Hodge 7/7 - - -
Randy M. Jarock 7/7 5/5 1/1 5/5
William S. Rice 7/7 5/5 1/1 5/5
Jacqueline R. Ricci 4/4 3/3 - 2/2

Board and Board Committees

The Board is responsible for supervising the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. The Board meets or has conference call meetings at least four times per year. The Board performance is evaluated annually by all of the Board members and indirectly by all of the Shareholders in that the Corporation’s directors are required to be elected each year by the Shareholders.

The Board’s mandate is attached as Schedule “A” to this Information Circular.

The Board’s committees are the Audit Committee, the Reserves Committee and the GNCC (collectively, the “ Committees ”). Each of the Committees meets a minimum number of times per year as required to conduct its respective duties. Agendas are provided to all directors in advance of all meetings and are generally prepared by the Corporation’s management and the respective Chair (the “ Chair ”) of the Committee after discussion with Board members who are responsible for particular items with regard to the agenda. Minutes of each Board and Committee meeting are provided for review and approval to the relevant members before execution.

The Board and each Committee can meet independently of management at any time and are encouraged to do so whenever a member deems it is warranted. The Board and each Committee also have the authority to engage independent advisors, paid for by the Corporation, to provide it with expert advice if required. The Committees are comprised of the members set out in the following table:

Committee Members Independent
Audit Committee Randy M. Jarock – Chair Yes
Jacqueline R. Ricci Yes
William S. Rice Yes
Reserves Committee Randy M. Jarock – Chair Yes
Jacqueline R. Ricci Yes
William S. Rice Yes
Governance, Nomination and William S. Rice – Chair Yes
Compensation Committee Jacqueline R. Ricci Yes
Randy M. Jarock Yes

For details about the composition of the Audit Committee, including a copy of the mandate of the Audit Committee, please refer to the Corporation’s annual information form for the year ended December 31,

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2020 under the heading “Audit Committee Information”, available under the Corporation’s profile at www.sedar.com and on the Corporation’s website at www.pinecliffenergy.com (the “ Website ”).

The function of the Reserves Committee is to recommend the engagement of a reserves evaluator, ensure the reserves evaluator’s independence, review and approve the expected fees of the reserves evaluator, review the procedures for disclosure of reserves evaluation, meet independently with the reserves evaluator to review the scope of the annual review of reserves, discuss findings and disagreements with management, annually assess the work of the reserves evaluator and approve the Corporation’s annual reserve report and consent forms of management and the reserves evaluator. The Reserves Committee charter is available on the Website.

The function of the GNCC is to evaluate, set and approve the level and form of compensation of the Corporation, particularly for the CEO and Board, the nomination of new Board members and developing and monitoring the Corporation’s general approach to corporate governance issues and applicable corporate governance guidelines. The GNCC charter is available on the Website.

Position Descriptions

Summaries of position descriptions are as follows:

Chairman of the Board

The main responsibility of the Chairman of the Board is to provide effective Board leadership, overseeing all aspects of the Board’s direction and administration in fulfilling the terms of the mandate of the Board, fostering ethical and responsible decision making by the Board and its individual members and overseeing the structure, composition, membership and activities delegated to the Board and its Committees.

Committee Chairs

The Chairs of each Committee are responsible for fulfilling the terms of the mandates of each Committee. The Chairs of the Committees are responsible for setting the agenda for each of their respective Committee meetings. The Chair of each Committee reports to the Board following each Committee meeting.

CEO Position

The CEO is ultimately responsible for directing and monitoring the activities and resources of the Corporation consistent with the strategic direction, financial limits and operating objectives adopted by the Board.

Orientation and Continuing Education

The Board has not developed a formal orientation and education program for new directors. Directors are encouraged to communicate with management, auditors and technical consultants to keep themselves current with industry trends and developments and changes in legislation, to attend related industry seminars and to visit the Corporation’s operations. Members of the Board have full access to the Corporation’s records and to any of the Corporation’s employees or consultants. The Board receives regular management reports and presentations with respect to the Corporation’s operations and activities.

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Ethical Business Conduct

The Corporation has adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “ Code ”). The Board takes reasonable steps to monitor compliance with the Code by requiring employees, on the commencement of their employment, annually and when directed by management, to sign a copy of the Code acknowledging that they have read, understood and will comply with the Code. The Code applies to the Corporation’s directors, executive officers, management, employees and consultants, each of whom is expected to ensure that their behaviour accords with the letter and the spirit of the Code. The Code also encourages all parties who engage in business with the Corporation to report any perceived and all actual breaches of the Code in accordance with the Corporation’s whistle blower policy (the “ Whistle Blower Policy ”). The Chairman is responsible for investigating complaints, presenting complaints to the Board and developing a plan for promptly and fairly resolving complaints. Upon conclusion of the investigation and resolution of a complaint, the Chairman will advise the complainant of the corrective measures that have been taken or advise the complainant that the complaint has not been substantiated. The Code prohibits retaliation by the Corporation, its directors, executive officers and management against complainants who raise concerns in good faith and requires the Corporation to maintain the confidentiality of complainants to the greatest extent practicable. Complainants may also submit their concerns anonymously in writing. However, complaints that in the future are determined to be inaccurate or untruthful could result in suspension or dismissal. The Code is available on the Website and under the Corporation’s profile at www.sedar.com.

In addition to the Code, the Corporation has an Audit Committee charter regarding the collection and dissemination of accounting information, and a Whistle Blower Policy with respect to reporting accounting and auditing irregularities, as well as other corporate misconduct and breaches of the Code. The Whistle Blower Policy is available on the Website.

Since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year, no material change reports have been filed that pertain to any conduct of a director or executive officer that constitutes a departure from the Code.

Nomination

Responsibility for identifying candidates to join the Board belongs to the GNCC. The criteria that GNCC members are asked to consider in identifying candidates include the independence of the individual, their financial and industry acumen and skills, and their availability to devote sufficient time to the duties of the Board. GNCC members who have identified new candidates present information regarding the candidate at a meeting of the GNCC, the GNCC makes an assessment to determine whether the candidate meets the criteria established by the GNCC, and then makes a decision whether to interview the candidate. If the Board members who interviewed the candidate are in favour of having the candidate stand for election, the GNCC will recommend to the Board to take a vote and if the candidate is approved, the candidate can either be appointed immediately in concurrence with the Corporation’s by-laws or can become a nominee for election by Shareholders at the next Shareholder meeting. The GNCC ensures objectivity in the nomination process by ensuring that the independent directors play an active role in the nomination process.

Compensation

Responsibility for determining the compensation of the directors and the CEO belongs to the GNCC, which then will make any recommendations to the Board. The criteria that GNCC members are asked to consider in determining compensation includes the objectives set by the Corporation for the directors and the CEO as against the performance, shareholder returns and other achievements of the Corporation. The GNCC may engage the services of a compensation advisor to advise the Corporation regarding the form and amount of compensation awarded by corporations similar in size and industry to the Corporation, including competitors. The GNCC also considers publicly available information regarding compensation of other

  • 27 -

listed oil and gas issuers of similar size to Pine Cliff. The GNCC holds meetings each year to discuss compensation, review any proposals of the CEO (without the CEO being present in the case of their compensation), and then votes on the proposed compensation.

With respect to directors’ compensation, the GNCC reviews the level and form of compensation received by the members and chairs of the Board and Committees, considering the duties and responsibilities of each member, their past service and continuing duties in service to the Corporation.

Term Limits

The Board has not adopted term limits for Board members. However, the Board has a process in place for the annual review of the performance of the Board as a whole and the individual Committees and directors. Through this annual review process, the Board determines whether there are any performance issues to be dealt with and therefore whether the directors both collectively and individually, are able to continue to make an effective contribution to the governance of the Corporation and recommend changes when appropriate. The Board is of the view that a regular review process is more effective than arbitrary term limits or a mandatory retirement age.

Women on the Board and in Executive Officer Positions

The Corporation has not adopted written policies or targets relating to the identification and nomination of women directors or the appointment of women to executive officer positions. The Board evaluates potential nominees to the Board by reviewing the qualifications of prospective nominees relative to the skills and experience that it anticipates are needed to enhance the capabilities of the Board. Similarly, the Board evaluates candidates for executive officer positions primarily based on whether a particular candidate has the skills and experience that are necessary to be successful in the particular position.

The Corporation’s commitment to meritocracy is why the level of representation of women on the Board is not specifically mandated and therefore not a distinct determining factor in nominating candidates for election or re-election to the Board.

Although the Corporation has not adopted written policies or targets relating to the appointment of women as directors and officers, and while the emphasis in any search to fill vacancies has been on finding the best qualified candidate, the Corporation recognizes the benefit of incorporating different perspectives into management and Board decisions and, accordingly, an individual’s diversity with respect to gender, race, nationality, age and other attributes is considered favourably in the assessment of candidates for director or officer positions. Subject to the above, gender diversity on the Board would be considered a priority when the GNCC is seeking to replace or add a Board member.

The Corporation does not support arbitrary targets or rules to force the composition of Board membership or the composition of management, but the Board supports the objectives of increasing diversity and, in particular, the number of women directors and executive officers. The GNCC reviews the number of women actually appointed and serving on the Board or as executive officers to evaluate whether it is desirable to adopt additional requirements or policies with respect to the diversity of the Board and management in the future.

One of the current members of the Board is a woman (20%) and one of the Named Executive Officers in 2020 was a woman (20%).

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Assessment

The Board takes steps to satisfy itself that the Board and the Committees and individual directors are performing effectively by conducting an annual evaluation and assessment of the performance, contribution and effectiveness of the Board, the committees and individual directors.

Majority Voting Policy

The Board has adopted a policy which requires that any nominee for director who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” than votes “for” his or her election as a director, in connection with an uncontested election, shall immediately submit his or her resignation to the Board following the annual Shareholders’ meeting. The Board shall consider the resignation and determine whether or not to accept the resignation within 90 days of the applicable meeting and a press release shall be issued by the Corporation announcing the Board’s determination. Any director who tenders his or her resignation shall not participate in any Board meeting to consider whether the resignation shall be accepted. The Board shall accept the resignation absent exceptional circumstances.

AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION

Under National Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees , the Corporation is required to include in its Annual Information Form (“ AIF ”) the disclosure required under Form 52-110F1 with respect to its Audit Committee, including the text of its Audit Committee charter, the composition of the Audit Committee and the fees paid to the external auditor. The Corporation’s disclosure with respect to the foregoing is contained in the section in its AIF dated March 9, 2021 entitled “Audit Committee Information”. A copy of the AIF has been filed in SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Copies of the AIF are also available free of charge by making a written request to the Corporation at Suite 850, 1015 – 4[th] Street S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2R 1J4, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Financial information is provided in the Corporation’s audited consolidated comparative financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020, copies of which are available by making a written request to the Corporation at Suite 850, 1015 – 4[th] Street S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2R 1J4. Additional information relating to the Corporation is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Website.

SCHEDULE “A” MANDATE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PINE CLIFF ENERGY LTD.

MANDATE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PINE CLIFF ENERGY LTD. (THE “CORPORATION”)

The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is to supervise the management of the Corporation to ensure the long term success of the Corporation and to maximize shareholder value. Any responsibility which has not been delegated to management remains with the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”).

COMPOSITION

The Board shall consist of such number of Directors as is fixed by the Articles of Incorporation (the “ Articles ”), or where the Articles specify a variable number, such number of Directors as may be determined from time to time by the Corporation’s shareholders by ordinary resolution. At least 25 percent of the Directors shall be resident Canadians. Except as set out in the By-Laws of the Corporation, Board members will be elected at the annual meeting of the shareholders and will serve until their successors are duly appointed. All members of the Board shall have the skills and abilities required to carry out their duties and responsibilities in the most effective manner. The Board shall endeavour to always have the right mix of experience and competencies to discharge its responsibilities.

MEETINGS

The Board meets or has conference call meetings at least four times per year, and as deemed necessary in order to carry out its duties effectively. The Board shall also retain independent advice, if deemed necessary, which will be paid for by the Corporation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Board is charged with the overall stewardship of the Corporation and manages or supervises the business of the Corporation and its management. The Board’s responsibilities include:

1. Management Selection, Retention and Succession

  • Select, appoint and if necessary terminate the Chief Executive Officer (“ CEO ”)

  • Approve the list of directors standing for election

  • Review this mandate annually and recommend changes to the Board when necessary

  • Annually appoint directors to Board committees and delegate to such committees specific responsibilities, pursuant to their respective mandate, as approved by the Board

  • At the Board’s discretion, appoint any other Board committees that the Board decides are needed and delegate to such committees specific responsibilities, pursuant to their respective mandate, as approved by the Board

  • Approve compensation and compensation programs for senior management, as recommended by the CEO

  • Assess the CEO against corporate objectives approved by the Board

  • Assess, annually, the effectiveness and the performance of the Board, committees and directors in fulfilling their responsibilities

  • Approve director’s compensation

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2. Strategy

  • Review and approve the corporate objectives developed by the CEO

  • Review, adopt and monitor the Corporation’s strategic planning process

  • Monitor the Corporation’s performance in light of the approved strategic planning process

3. Corporate Ethics and Integrity

  • Review and monitor the Corporation’s Code of Conduct and disclose any waivers of the code for officers and directors

  • Review and respond to potential conflict of interest situations

  • Ensure policies and processes are in place for the identification of principal business risks and review and approve risk management strategies

  • Approve corporate policies and other corporate protocols and controls

  • Approve the Corporation’s policy on public disclosure

4. Financial Responsibilities

  • Approve the annual financial statements of the Corporation, as recommended by the Audit Committee

  • Approve the quarterly interim financial statements of the Corporation, as recommended by the Audit Committee

  • Recommend to the shareholders the appointment of the Corporation’s external auditors, as recommended by the Audit Committee

  • Review and approve annually the Corporation’s operating budget

  • Review, as deemed necessary, approval authorities to the CEO and senior management

  • Approve financial commitments in excess of delegated approval authorities

  • Review and approve any material acquisitions, divestments, and corporate reorganizations

  • Assess and approve any material securities offerings, financing or banking arrangements

TIMETABLE

The Board’s work schedule will be conducted on an ongoing basis to serve the requirements of applicable regulations.

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SCHEDULE “B” AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK OPTION PLAN (“2018 PLAN”) PINE CLIFF ENERGY LTD.

PART 1 - INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of the Plan is to secure for the Corporation and its shareholders the benefits of incentives inherent in share ownership by the directors, management, employees and consultants of the Corporation who, in the judgment of the Board, will contribute to its future growth and success. It is generally recognized that a stock option plan of the nature provided for herein aids the Corporation in retaining and encouraging directors, management, employees and consultants who are considered as potential key contributors to the success of the Corporation, by providing to them the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Corporation.

1.2 Definitions

Whenever used herein, the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings, namely:

  • 1.2.1 “ Affiliate ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Business Corporations Act (Alberta);

  • 1.2.2 “ Blackout Period ” means a period of time during which the Optionee cannot exercise an Option, or sell Optioned Shares, due to applicable policies of the Corporation in respect of insider trading;

  • 1.2.3 “ Board ” means the board of directors of the Corporation as it may be constituted from time to time;

  • 1.2.4 “ Change of Control ” means:

  • (a) a bona fide offer for Shares is made to all shareholders of the Corporation or for 100 percent of a class of shareholders which includes the Optionee, which offer, if accepted in whole or in part, would result in the offeror exercising control over the Corporation within the meaning of the Securities Act (Alberta);

  • (b) the sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets to any other person or persons or a merger, amalgamation or arrangement; or

  • (c) any other form of transaction which the majority of the Board determines is reasonably likely to have similar effect as either of the transactions referred to in subparagraphs (a) or (b) of this Section;

  • 1.2.5 “ Consultant Company ” means for an individual consultant, a company or partnership of which the individual is an employee, shareholder or partner;

  • 1.2.6 “ Company ” means, unless specifically indicated otherwise, a corporation, incorporated association or organization, body corporate, partnership, trust, association or other entity other than an individual;

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  • 1.2.7 “ Corporation ” means Pine Cliff Energy Ltd., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta and any successor or continuing corporation resulting from the amalgamation of the Corporation and any other Company, or resulting from any other corporate reorganization;

  • 1.2.8 “ Eligible Consultant ” means, in relation to the Corporation, an individual or Consultant Company, other than an Eligible Employee or an Eligible Director of the Corporation that:

  • (a) is engaged to provide on an ongoing bona fide basis, consulting, technical, management or other services to the Corporation or to an Affiliate of the Corporation, other than services provided in relation to a Distribution (as defined in the Securities Act (Alberta));

  • (b) provides the services under a written contract between the Corporation or an Affiliate of the Corporation, and the individual or the Consulting Company;

  • (c) in the reasonable opinion of the Corporation, spends or will spend a significant amount of time and attention on the business and affairs of the Corporation or an Affiliate of the Corporation; and

  • (d) has a relationship with the Corporation or an Affiliate of the Corporation that enables the individual to be knowledgeable about the business and affairs of the Corporation;

  • 1.2.9 “ Eligible Director ” means a director of the Corporation or a director of the Corporation’s subsidiaries’ to whom stock options can be granted in reliance on a prospectus exemption under applicable securities laws;

1.2.10 “ Eligible Employee ” means:

  • (a) an individual who is considered an employee of the Corporation or of a Subsidiary of the Corporation under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (i.e. for whom income tax, employment insurance and CPP deductions must be made at the source);

  • (b) an individual who works full-time for the Corporation or for a Subsidiary of the Corporation providing services normally provided by an employee and who is subject to the same control and direction by the Corporation over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Corporation, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at the source; or

  • (c) an individual who works for the Corporation or for a Subsidiary of the Corporation on a continuing and regular basis for a minimum amount of time per week providing services normally provided by an employee and who is subject to the same control and direction by the Corporation over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Corporation, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at the source;

  • 1.2.11 “ Eligible Management Company Employee ” means a Management Company Employee of the Corporation or a Management Company Employee of one of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries to whom stock options can be granted in reliance on a prospectus exemption under applicable securities laws;

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  • 1.2.12 “ Eligible Member of Management ” means any Officer of the Corporation or an Officer of a Subsidiary of the Corporation to whom stock options can be granted in reliance on a prospectus exemption under applicable securities laws;

  • 1.2.13 “ Eligible Participant ” means Eligible Consultants, Eligible Directors, Eligible Employees, Eligible Management Company Employees and Eligible Members of Management;

  • 1.2.14 “ Exchange ” means any exchange upon which the Shares may be listed from time to time;

  • 1.2.15 “ Exercise Price ” means the price at which particular Optioned Shares may be subscribed for pursuant to an Option, as determined under Section 2.3;

  • 1.2.16 “ Insider ” has the same meaning as found in the Securities Act (Alberta), as amended, and also includes associates and affiliates of the insider; and “issuances to insiders” includes direct and indirect issuances to insiders;

  • 1.2.17 “ Investor Relations Activities ” means any activities by or on behalf of the Corporation or a shareholder of the Corporation, that promote or reasonably could be expected to promote the purchase or sale of securities of the Corporation, but does not include:

  • (a) the dissemination of information provided, or records prepared, in the ordinary course of business of the Corporation:

    • (i) to promote the sale of products and services of the Corporation; or

    • (ii) to raise public awareness of the issuer;

that cannot reasonably be considered to promote the purchase or sale of securities of the Corporation;

  • (b) activities or communications necessary to comply with the requirements of:

  • (i) applicable securities laws; or

  • (ii) the by-laws, rules, policies, or other regulatory instruments of any selfregulatory body or exchange having jurisdiction over the Corporation;

  • (c) communications by a publisher of, or writer for, a newspaper, magazine or business or financial publication, that is of general and regular paid circulation, distributed only to subscribers to it for value or to purchasers of it, if:

  • (i) the communication is only through the newspaper, magazine or publication; and

  • (ii) the publisher or writer receives no commission or other consideration other than for acting in the capacity of publisher or writer; or

  • (d) activities or communications that may be otherwise specified by any stock exchange having jurisdiction over the Corporation;

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  • 1.2.18 “ Management Company Employee ” means an individual employed by a Person providing management services to the Corporation, which are required for the ongoing successful operation of the business enterprise of the Corporation, but excluding a Person engaged in Investor Relations Activities;

  • 1.2.19 “ Officer ” means: (a) the chair or vice chair of the Board, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer, the president, the vice-president, the secretary, the assistant secretary, the treasurer, the assistant treasurer or the general manager of the Corporation or a Subsidiary; or (b) any other individual who performs functions for the Corporation or a Subsidiary similar to those normally performed by an individual referred to in (a);

  • 1.2.20 “ Option ” means an option granted under the terms of the Plan;

  • 1.2.21 “ Option Agreement ” means the form of option agreement attached hereto as Schedule “C”;

  • 1.2.22 “ Option Period ” means the period during which an Option may be exercised;

  • 1.2.23 “ Optioned Shares ” means the Shares issuable on exercise of an Option or Options as the case may be;

  • 1.2.24 “ Optionee ” means an Eligible Participant to whom an Option has been granted under the terms of the Plan;

  • 1.2.25 “ Person ” means a Company or an individual;

  • 1.2.26 “ Plan ” means the stock option plan established and operated pursuant to the terms hereof and as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof;

  • 1.2.27 “ Shares ” means the common shares of the Corporation from time to time authorized by the constating documents of the Corporation;

  • 1.2.28 “ Subsidiary ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Business Corporations Act (Alberta);

  • 1.2.29 “ TSX ” means the Toronto Stock Exchange; and

  • 1.2.30 “ Voting Share ” means a security of the Corporation that:

  • (a) is not a debt security, and

  • (b) carries a voting right either under all circumstances or under some circumstances that have occurred and are continuing.

PART 2 - STOCK OPTION PLAN

2.1 Participation

Options shall be granted only to bona fide Eligible Participants.

In the case of employees or consultants of the Corporation or Management Company Employees, the option agreements to which they are party must contain a representation of the Corporation that such employee,

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consultant or Management Company Employee, as the case may be, is a bona fide employee, consultant or Management Company Employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

2.2 Determination of Option Recipients

The Board, or the President, if duly authorized by the Board, shall make all necessary or desirable determinations regarding the granting of Options to Eligible Participants and may take into consideration the present and potential contributions of a particular Eligible Participant to the success of the Corporation and any other factors which it may deem proper and relevant.

2.3 Price

  • 2.3.1 The Exercise Price per Share shall be determined from time to time by the Board but, in any event, shall not be lower than the closing price of the Shares on the Exchange on the last trading day preceding the date of grant, if the Shares are then listed for trading on the Exchange. In the event that the Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange and no trades of the Shares have taken place on the Exchange on any trading day within a five-day period immediately preceding the date of grant, the Board may, in its sole discretion subject to Exchange Approval, select as the exercise price per Share the weighted average trading price of the Shares on the Exchange over the last ten trading days on which the Shares traded on the Exchange immediately preceding the date of the grant.

  • 2.3.2 Subject to Sections 3.5 and 3.9, if the Shares become listed for trading on an Exchange or the Corporation has made application to an Exchange for the listing of the Shares thereon, the Board may amend the Exercise Price for any particular Shares and any other terms of all unexercised Options by increasing such Exercise Price, or amending such other terms, in each case to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Exchange.

2.4

Grant of Options

  • 2.4.1 The Board, or the President, if duly authorized by the Board, may at any time authorize the granting of Options to Eligible Participants as it may select for the number of Shares that it shall designate, subject to the provisions of the Plan. The Board, or the President, if duly authorized by the Board, at its or his discretion, may grant options on such terms and conditions as it or he considers appropriate provided that such terms and conditions are not inconsistent with the Plan and the policies of the Exchange, if applicable.

  • 2.4.2 Each Option granted to an Eligible Participant shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement with terms and conditions consistent with the Plan and as approved by the Board or the President if duly authorized (which terms and conditions need not be the same in each case and may be changed from time to time).

2.5 Term of Options

  • 2.5.1 The Option Period shall not be greater than a period of five (5) years after the date such Option is granted. The Option Period may be reduced with respect to any such Option as provided in Section 2.8 hereof.

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  • 2.5.2 Unless otherwise determined at the time of grant by the Board, and subject to the other terms and conditions of this Plan (including Section 2.9 hereof), Options may be exercised as follows:

  • (a) no Option may be exercised within one (1) year following the date of grant of the Option;

  • (b) after the date that is one (1) year following the date of grant of an Option the Optionee may exercise his rights as to 1/3 of the Shares under option or any lesser part thereof; and

  • (c) after each of the first and second anniversaries of the date determined in Section (b) above, the Optionee may exercise his rights as to an additional 1/3 of the Shares under option or any lesser part thereof.

  • 2.5.3 Any Options remaining unexercised after they became eligible for exercise may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the remainder of the Option Period.

  • 2.5.4 Except as set forth in Section 2.8 hereof, no Option may be exercised unless the Options have been vested and the Optionee is at the time of such exercise an Eligible Participant and shall have been an Eligible Participant continuously since the grant of his Option, but absence on leave, subject to any extension to the vesting period required by the Board, shall not be considered an interruption of eligibility for any purpose of the Plan.

  • 2.5.5 No Optionee or his legal representatives, legatees or distributees will be, or will be deemed to be, a holder of any Shares subject to an Option, unless and until certificates for such Shares are issued to him or them under the terms of the Plan.

  • 2.5.6 Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, if the expiration date for an Option occurs during a Blackout Period applicable to the relevant Optionee, or within 10 business days after the expiry of a Blackout Period applicable to the relevant Optionee, then the expiration date for that Option shall be the date that is the 10[th] business day after the expiry date of the Blackout Period (the “ Blackout Expiry Term ”). This subparagraph 2.5.6 applies to all Options outstanding under this Plan. The Blackout Expiry Term for an Option may not be amended by the Board of Directors without the approval of the shareholders in accordance with subparagraph 3.9 of the Plan.

2.6 Exercise of Options

  • 2.6.1 To exercise the Option, the Optionee or the Optionee’s personal legal representative shall, no later than the close of business (Calgary time) on the expiry date for such Option as set out in the agreement between the Corporation and the Optionee with respect thereto, give written notice to the Corporation of the Optionee’s intention to exercise the Option in whole or in part, accompanied by cash, certified cheque, bank draft or money order payable to the Corporation for the full amount of the purchase price of the Shares being purchased.

  • 2.6.2 Upon any such exercise of an Option, the Corporation shall deliver, or shall cause the registrar and transfer agent of the Corporation to deliver, to the Optionee or the Optionee’s personal representative (or as the Optionee or the Optionee’s personal representative may otherwise lawfully direct in the written notice of exercise) a certificate or certificates in the name of the Optionee or the Optionee’s personal representative (or as otherwise lawfully

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directed in the written notice of exercise) representing in the aggregate the number of Shares in respect of which full payment of the purchase price thereof has been paid by the Optionee or the Optionee’s personal representative.

  • 2.6.3 All Shares subscribed for on exercise of an Option shall be paid for in full at the time of subscription.

  • 2.6.4 Except as provided in Section 2.8, no Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time unless at the time of such exercise the Optionee is an Eligible Participant.

2.7 Lapsed Option

If Options are surrendered, terminated or expire without being exercised in whole or in part, the Board, or the President, if duly authorized by the Board, may grant new Options covering the Shares not purchased under such surrendered, terminated or expired Options to the extent permitted by the Exchange, if applicable.

2.8 Effect of Termination of Employment or Death

  • 2.8.1 If an Optionee shall die while an Eligible Employee, Eligible Director, Eligible Consultant (if an individual), Eligible Member of Management or Eligible Management Company Employee, any vested Option held by him at the date of death shall be exercisable if the Option was issued ten (10) days or more prior to the date of death, but only by the person or persons to whom the Optionee’s rights under the Option shall pass by the Optionee’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. All such Options shall be exercisable only for a period of sixty (60) days after the date of death or prior to the expiration of the Option Period in respect thereof, whichever is sooner.

  • 2.8.2 If an Optionee ceased to be an Eligible Participant due to termination for cause, no Option held by such Optionee may be exercised following the date on which such Optionee ceases to be an Eligible Participant.

  • 2.8.3 If an Optionee ceased to be an Eligible Participant for any reason other than termination for cause or death (which includes, for an Eligible Director, the event the Optionee’s term of appointment or election as a director (where such director is not reappointed or re-elected) ends), any vested Option held by such Optionee may be exercised only for a period of ten (10) days after the date on which such Optionee ceases to be an Eligible Participant or prior to the expiration of the Option Period in respect thereof, whichever is sooner.

  • 2.8.4 If an Optionee who is an Eligible Consultant ceased to be retained by the Corporation by virtue of a breach of the consulting agreement, termination thereof or the expiry thereof, or such retainer is otherwise terminated (other than for reasons set forth in Sections 2.8.1, 2.8.2 or 2.8.3 above), no Option held by such Eligible Consultant may be exercised following such breach, expiry or termination, as the case may be.

2.9 Effect of Change of Control

  • 2.9.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Board may at any time, by notice in writing to the Optionee, in connection with a transaction which, if completed, would constitute a Change of Control (in any such case, a “ Proposed Transaction ”), require the

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Optionee to accept termination of the Option by electing within the period prescribed by the Board (being at least thirty (30) days in duration or such lesser period as may be approved by the Board) (the “ Prescribed Period ”) to subscribe for all of the Shares issuable on exercise of the Option in accordance with Section 2.9.2.

  • 2.9.2 Upon receipt of notice from the Board under Section 2.9.1, the Optionee shall, within the Prescribed Period, elect by notice in writing to the Corporation to accept termination of the Option by subscribing and paying for all of the Shares then remaining issuable on exercise of the Option, regardless of whether such Shares may not be fully vested at such time in accordance with Section 2.5 hereof.

  • 2.9.3 In no event shall the Optionee be entitled to sell the Optioned Shares that are subject to a vesting restriction set forth in Section 2.5 hereof otherwise than pursuant to the Proposed Transaction.

  • 2.9.4 In any notice of election given by the Optionee under Section 2.9.2, the Optionee shall be deemed to have included a direction to the Corporation that:

  • (a) the Corporation only complete the issuance of any Shares subscribed for by the Optionee immediately prior to or contemporaneously with the completion of the Proposed Transaction; and

  • (b) in the event that the Board in good faith determines that the Proposed Transaction will not be completed, the notice of election of the Optionee given under Section 2.9.2 be terminated, and in such event any payment made by the Optionee to the Corporation will be returned to the Optionee and the Option shall thereafter continue to be exercisable by the Optionee in accordance with its terms.

  • 2.9.5 If the Optionee has not elected within the Prescribed Period to subscribe for Shares in accordance with Section 2.9.2, the Option will be deemed to have terminated at the end of the Prescribed Period, and the Corporation shall have no further obligations to the Optionee with respect thereto.

  • 2.9.6 The provisions of Section 2.9.2 requiring the Optionee to make an election to exercise the Option shall only be invoked with respect to all Optionees generally and not with respect to one or more of the Optionees and not other Optionees. Upon the subscription and payment for Shares by the Optionee or the deemed termination of the Option under Section 2.9.5, all rights of the Optionee under the Option will terminate.

  • 2.9.7 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, if the Optionee has elected within the Prescribed Period to subscribe for Shares in accordance with Section 2.9.2, the Board may at any time thereafter, by notice in writing to the Optionee, elect to terminate the Option upon payment to the Optionee of the Termination Amount. For the purpose of this Section 2.9.7, the “ Termination Amount ” shall equal the amount (if any) by which the consideration paid or payable per share pursuant to the Proposed Transaction exceeds the applicable Exercise Price. Upon payment of the Termination Amount, the Corporation shall have no further obligations to the Optionee with respect to the Option.

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2.10 Effect of Amalgamation, Consolidation or Merger

  • 2.10.1 Subject to Section 2.9, if the Corporation amalgamates, consolidates or merges with or into another corporation, any Shares receivable on the exercise of an Option shall be converted into the securities, property or cash which the Eligible Participant would have received upon such amalgamation, consolidation or merger if the Eligible Participant had exercised his Option immediately prior to the record date applicable to such amalgamation, consolidation or merger (whether or not such Option would otherwise then have been fully exercisable at such time), and the Exercise Price shall be adjusted appropriately by the Board and such adjustment shall be binding for all purposes of the Plan.

  • 2.10.2 Except as expressly provided herein, the grant of any Option shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or powers of the Board, the Corporation or its shareholders to make any changes or deal in any manner with the authorized, issued or unissued Shares or any other securities of the Corporation and no such change or dealing shall give any right or entitlement to the holder of any Option in respect or as a result thereof.

2.11 Cashless Exercise

Any Optionee may elect to effect a cashless exercise of any or all of such Optionee’s vested and exercisable rights under an Option. In connection with any such cashless exercise, the Optionee shall be entitled to receive, without any cash payment (other than taxes required to be paid in connection with the exercise which must be paid by the Optionee to the Corporation in cash at the time of exercise in accordance with Section 3.8 hereof), such number of whole Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole number) obtained pursuant to the following formula:

X = [A x (B - C)] B Where: X = the number of whole shares to be issued A = the number of vested Options being exercised B = the closing price of the Shares on the Exchange on the last day preceding the day that written notice of the request for cashless exercise is received by the Corporation at its head office C = the exercise price of the Option

In connection with any such cashless exercise, the full number of Options being exercised (item “A” in the formula) shall be considered to have been issued for the purposes of determining the number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan.

2.12 Adjustment in Shares Subject to the Plan

Subject to the approval of the TSX, if there is any change in the Shares through a consolidation, subdivision or reclassification of Shares, or otherwise, the number of Shares available under the Plan, the Shares subject to any Option, and the purchase price thereof shall be adjusted appropriately by the Board and such adjustment shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.

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2.13 Approval

The term of the Options granted from time to time hereunder, and the Optionees to whom Options are granted, are subject, if applicable, to the Exchange accepting notice of such terms and proposed Optionees.

PART 3- GENERAL

3.1 Number of Shares

  • 3.1.1 The aggregate number of Shares that may be available for issuance under the Plan shall not exceed ten (10%) percent of the total number of Shares outstanding (on a non-diluted basis) at the time of grant.

  • 3.1.2 The aggregate number of Shares so available for issuance under the Plan or under any other security based compensation arrangements:

  • (a) to any one Optionee in any twelve (12) month period shall not exceed five (5%) percent of the issued Shares (on a non-diluted basis) at the time of grant of any Option (including the Shares that are subject to such Option);

  • (b) to any one Eligible Consultant in any twelve (12) month period shall not exceed two (2%) percent of the issued Shares (on a non-diluted basis) at the time of the grant of any Option (including the Shares that are subject to such Option);

  • (c) to all Eligible Employees conducting Investor Relations Activities in any twelve (12) month period shall not exceed two (2%) percent of the issued Shares (on a non-diluted basis) at the time of the grant of any Option (including the Shares that are subject to such Option); and

  • (d) to any Insiders:

    • (i) issued to Insiders, within any one year period; and

    • (ii) issuable to Insiders, at any time,

under the arrangement or when combined with all of the Corporation’s other security based compensation arrangements, which cannot exceed 10% of the Corporation’s total issued and outstanding securities, respectively.

3.2 Transferability

  • 3.2.1 All benefits, rights and options accruing to any Eligible Participant in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan shall not be assignable or transferable, other than as provided in Section 2.8.1 upon death of an Optionee. During the lifetime of an Eligible Participant all benefits, rights and options may only be exercised by the Eligible Participant.

  • 3.2.2 Participation in the Plan shall not affect an Eligible Participant’s eligibility to participate in any other benefit or incentive plan of the Corporation or a Subsidiary.

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  • 3.2.3 Any Option granted pursuant to this Plan shall not obligate the Corporation to make any benefit available to an Eligible Participant under any other plan of the Corporation unless otherwise specifically provided for in such plan.

  • 3.2.4 Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Corporation or any Subsidiary from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements for the benefit of any Eligible Participant, subject to any required shareholder or regulatory approval.

  • 3.2.5 Under no circumstances shall the Corporation be obliged to issue any fractional Shares upon the exercise of an Option. To the extent that an Optionee would otherwise have been entitled to receive, on the exercise or partial exercise of an Option, a fraction of a Share, the Option shall be cancelled with respect to such fraction.

3.3

Employment

Nothing contained in the Plan shall confer upon any Eligible Participant any right with respect to employment or continuance of employment or any retainer with the Corporation or interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation to terminate the Eligible Participant’s employment or retainer at any time. Participation in the Plan by an Eligible Participant is voluntary.

3.4 Record Keeping

The Corporation shall maintain a register in which shall be recorded:

  • (a) the name and address of each Eligible Participant; and

  • (b) the number of Options granted to an Eligible Participant and the number of Options outstanding.

3.5 Necessary Approvals

  • 3.5.1 The Plan shall be effective only upon the approval of the Exchange, and, if required by such Exchange, by the shareholders of the Corporation.

  • 3.5.2 The obligation of the Corporation to issue and deliver Shares in accordance with the Plan is subject to the approval of any governmental, securities regulatory authority or Exchange having jurisdiction which may be required in connection with the authorization or issuance of such Shares by the Corporation. If any Shares cannot be issued to any Eligible Participant for any reason including, without limitation, the failure to obtain such approval, then the obligation of the Corporation to issue such Shares shall terminate and any Exercise Price paid to the Corporation shall be returned to the Eligible Participant.

  • 3.5.3 Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be subject to the requirement that if at any time the Board shall determine that any agreement, undertaking or other action or co-operation on the part of an Optionee, including in respect to a disposition of the Shares, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with (a) the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares subject to the Plan upon any Exchange or under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction or (b) obtaining a consent or approval of any governmental or other regulatory body, the exercise of such Option and the issue of Shares thereon may be deferred in whole or in part by the Board until such time as the agreement, undertaking or

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other action or co-operation shall have been obtained in a form and on terms acceptable to the Board.

3.6 Administration of the Plan

  • 3.6.1 The Board is authorized to interpret the Plan from time to time and to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations for carrying out the Plan. The interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan by the Board shall be final and conclusive.

  • 3.6.2 Administration of the Plan shall be the responsibility of the appropriate directors and/or officers of the Corporation and all costs in respect thereof shall be paid by the Corporation.

  • 3.6.3 The Officers of the Corporation are authorized and directed to do all things and execute and deliver all agreements, instruments, undertakings and applications and writings as they, in their absolute discretion, consider necessary for the implementation of the Plan and of the rules and regulations established for administering the Plan.

3.7 Right to Options

Nothing contained herein or in any resolution previously or hereafter adopted by the Board shall vest the right in any person to receive any Option. No person shall acquire any of the rights of any Optionee unless and until a written Option agreement in accordance with Section 2.4.2 shall have been duly executed on behalf of the Corporation and delivered to the Optionee and executed and delivered by the Optionee to the Corporation. Any agreement purporting to be an Option agreement shall, to the extent it may be contrary to the express provisions of the Plan, be unenforceable by the Optionee against the Corporation.

3.8 Income Taxes

  • 3.8.1 The Corporation shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require an Optionee to remit to the Corporation, the required amount to satisfy federal, provincial, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Plan, including the grant or exercise of Options granted under the Plan. With respect to required withholding, the Corporation shall have the irrevocable right (and the Optionee shall consent to) the Corporation setting off any amounts required to be withheld, in whole or in part, against amounts otherwise owing by the Corporation to the Optionee (whether arising pursuant to the Optionee’s relationship as a director, officer, employee or consultant of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise), or may make such other arrangements satisfactory to the Optionee and the Corporation. In addition, the Corporation may elect, in its sole discretion, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by withholding such number of Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the Option as it determines are required to be sold by the Corporation, as trustee, to satisfy the withholding obligation net of selling costs. The Optionee shall consent to such sale and grant to the Corporation an irrevocable power of attorney to affect the sale of such Shares and shall acknowledge and agree that the Corporation does not accept responsibility for the price obtained on the sale of such Shares.

  • 3.8.2 Optionees (or their beneficiaries) shall be responsible for all taxes with respect to any Options under the Plan, whether arising as a result of the grant or exercise of Options or otherwise. The Corporation makes no guarantees to any person regarding the tax treatment of Options or payments made under the Plan and none of the Corporation, or any of its

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officers, directors, employees or other representatives shall have any liability to an Optionee with respect thereto.

3.9

Amendments or Termination of the Plan

  • 3.9.1 The Board reserves the right to amend, modify or terminate the Plan at any time without shareholder approval subject to the rules of the TSX. Any amendment to any provision of the Plan shall be subject to approval, if applicable and if required, by the Exchange or any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the securities of the Corporation, and, if required, by the shareholders of the Corporation in the manner prescribed by the Exchange or any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Corporation from time to time.

  • 3.9.2 If the Plan is terminated, the provisions of the Plan and any administrative guidelines and other rules and regulations adopted by the Board and in force on the date of termination will continue in effect as long as any Option or any rights pursuant thereto remain outstanding and, notwithstanding the termination of the Plan, the Board shall remain able to make such amendments to the Plan or the Options as they would have been entitled to make if the Plan were still in effect.

3.10 Reduction in Exercise Price

Any reduction to the Exercise Price of an Option must be approved by the Board and shall require such approvals as may be required by any regulatory body having jurisdiction, including disinterested shareholder approval if required by the Exchange.

3.11 Representation or Warranty

The Corporation makes no representation or warranty as to the future market value of any Shares issued in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

3.12 Liability

Neither the Corporation, nor any of its directors, officers or employees are liable for anything done or omitted to be done by such person or any other person with respect to the price, time, quantity or other conditions and circumstances of the purchase or sale of Shares hereunder, with respect to any fluctuations in the market price of Shares or in any other manner related to the Plan.

3.13 Governing Law

The Plan shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta excluding any conflicts of law, rule or principle which might refer such construction to the laws of another jurisdiction.

3.14 Interpretation

Words used herein importing the singular number include the plural and vice versa and words importing the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter genders.

3.15 Compliance with Applicable Laws

If any provision of the Plan or any agreement entered into pursuant to the Plan contravenes any law or any order, policy, by-law or regulation of the Exchange, if applicable, or any regulatory body having authority over the Corporation or the Plan then such provision shall be deemed to be amended to the extent required to bring such provision into compliance therewith.

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SCHEDULE “C”

BY-LAW NO. 2

A by-law relating generally to the advance notice requirements for the nomination of directors of Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. (“ Pine Cliff ” or the “Corporation ”).

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this advance notice by-law (the “ Advance Notice By-law ”) is to establish the conditions and framework under which holders of common shares of the Corporation (“ Shareholders ”) may exercise their right to submit director nominations, establishing a window within which such nominations must be submitted by a Shareholder to the Corporation prior to any annual meeting of Shareholders or any special meeting of Shareholders at which directors are to be elected, and sets out the information that a Shareholder must include in the notice to the Corporation for such notice to be in proper form, so as to:

  • a) promote the orderly conduct of Shareholder meetings; and

  • b) ensure that all Shareholders, whether they are voting by proxy or in person at a meeting of Shareholders, will have adequate time and sufficient information to evaluate potential nominees to the board of directors (the “ Board ”).

  • Nomination Procedures. Subject only to the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), as amended from time to time (the “ Act ”), the Articles of Incorporation of Pine Cliff, as amended (the “ Articles ”), and applicable securities legislation of each relevant province and territory of Canada, as amended from time to time (including the written rules, regulations and forms made or promulgated under any applicable statute and the published national instruments, multilateral instruments, policies, bulletins and notices of the securities commissions and similar regulatory authorities of each province and territory of Canada (collectively, “ Applicable Securities Laws ”)), only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures will be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation at any meeting of the Shareholders at which directors are to be elected. For greater certainty, this Advance Notice By-law does not apply to:

    • (a) the appointment, by the Board, of a director to fill a vacancy on the Board; or

    • (b) the appointment, by the Board, of a director or directors between annual meetings of the Shareholders in accordance with the Articles.

Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at any annual meeting of Shareholders, or at any special meeting of Shareholders if one of the scheduled items of business for such special meeting is the election of directors. Such nominations will be accepted only if made in the following manner:

  • (a) by or at the direction of the Board or an authorized officer of the Corporation, including pursuant to a notice of meeting;

  • (b) by or at the direction or request of one or more Shareholders of the Corporation pursuant to a proposal duly made in accordance with the Act, or a requisition of a meeting of the Shareholders duly made in accordance with the Act; or

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  • (c) by any person (a “ Nominating Shareholder ”) who:

    • (i) at the close of business on the date of that notice to the Secretary of the Corporation provided below in this Advance Notice By-law is given and on the record date for determining shareholders entitled to receive notice of, or to vote at, such meeting (as applicable), is entered in the securities register of the Corporation as a holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at such meeting, or who beneficially owns shares that are entitled to be voted at such meeting and who establishes to the satisfaction of the chair of the meeting such beneficial ownership; and

    • (ii) who complies with the notice and other procedures set out below in this Advance Notice By-law.

  • Timely and Proper Notice. In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination made by a Nominating Shareholder to be valid and accepted, such Nominating Shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation at the head office of the Corporation in accordance with this Advance Notice By-law.

  • Manner of Timely Notice. To be timely, a Nominating Shareholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Corporation must be given:

  • (a) in the case of an annual meeting (including an annual and special meeting) of Shareholders, not less than 30 days prior to the date of the annual meeting of Shareholders; provided, however, that if the annual meeting of Shareholders is to be held on a date that is less than 50 days after the date (the “ Notice Date ”) on which the first public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was made, notice by the Nominating Shareholder must be given not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the Notice Date; and

  • (b) in the case of a special meeting of Shareholders (which is not also an annual meeting) called for the purpose of electing directors (whether or not called for other purposes), not later than the close of business on the fifteenth (15th) day following the day on which the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting was made.

Each of the notice periods set out in Sections 3(a) and 3(b) above shall be reset if the meeting is adjourned or postponed, and for this purpose the Notice Date shall be the date of the first public announcement of the adjournment or postponement.

  1. Proper Form of Notice. To be in proper written form, a Nominating Shareholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Corporation must set out:

  2. (a) as to each person whom the Nominating Shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director:

    • (i) the name, age, business address and residential address of the person;

    • (ii) the principal occupation, business or employment of the person for the most recent five years including, without limitation, the name and principal business of any company in which any such employment is carried on;

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  • (iii) the number of securities of each class of voting securities of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries beneficially owned, or in respect of which control or direction is exercised, directly or indirectly, by the person as of the record date for the meeting of shareholders (if such date shall then have been made publicly available and shall have occurred as of the date of the Notice) and as of the date of such notice;

  • (iv) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a dissident’s proxy circular in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors pursuant to the Act or Applicable Securities Laws (or both); and

  • (v) a duly completed personal information form in the form prescribed by the principal stock exchange on which the securities of the Corporation are listed for trading; and

  • (b) as to the Nominating Shareholder:

  • (i) the name and address of such Nominating Shareholder;

  • (ii) the number of securities of each class of voting securities of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries beneficially owned, or over which control or direction (or both) is exercised, directly or indirectly, by such person, alone or together with any joint actor or joint actors, as of the record date for the meeting (if such date shall then have been made publicly available and shall have occurred as of the date of the Notice) and as of the date of such notice;

  • (iii) full particulars of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the notice by, or on behalf of, such Nominating Shareholder, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying securities of the Corporation, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Nominating Shareholder with respect to securities of the Corporation;

  • (iv) full particulars of any proxy, contract, arrangement, agreement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Nominating Shareholder has a right to vote or to direct or to control the voting of any shares of the Corporation;

  • (v) whether such Nominating Shareholder intends to deliver a proxy circular and/or form of proxy to any Shareholders of the Corporation in connection with such nomination or otherwise solicit proxies or votes from Shareholders of the Corporation in support of such nomination; and

  • (vi) any other information relating to such Nominating Shareholder that would be required to be disclosed in a dissident’s proxy circular or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Act or any Applicable Securities Laws.

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References to Nominating Shareholder in this Section 4 shall be deemed to refer to each Shareholder that nominates a person for election as director in the case of a nomination proposal where more than one Shareholder is involved in making such nomination proposal.

  1. Consent to Serve as Director. The notice provided under Section 4 must be accompanied by the written consent of each nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director, if elected.

  2. Other Information. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as the Corporation may request to (a) determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee, or (b) satisfy the requirements of applicable stock exchange rules.

  3. Notice to be Updated. In addition, to be considered timely and in proper written form, a Nominating Shareholder’s notice must be promptly updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting.

  4. Eligibility for Election. No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Advance Notice By-law; provided, however that nothing in this Advance Notice By-law shall be deemed to preclude discussions by a Shareholder (as distinct from the nomination of directors) at a meeting of Shareholders of any matter in respect of which such Shareholder would have been entitled to submit a proposal pursuant to the provisions of the Act. The chair of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures set out in this Advance Notice By-law and, if any proposed nomination is not in compliance with such foregoing provisions, to declare that such nomination is defective and cannot be accepted. If such a determination is made, the person will not be considered to be duly nominated for purposes of the applicable meeting and will not be eligible for election as a director.

  5. Notwithstanding any provision of this Advance Notice By-law, if the number of directors to be elected at a meeting of the Shareholders is increased, with effect after the date by which the Nominating Shareholder’s notice would otherwise be required to be given hereunder in order to be effective for the applicable meeting of Shareholders, a notice with respect to nominees for the additional directorships required hereunder shall be considered timely if it is given no later than the close of business on the tenth (10[th] ) day following the date on which the first public announcement of such increase was made by the Corporation.

  6. Terms. For the purposes of this Advance Notice By-law “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure in a news release disseminated through a national news service in Canada, or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation (under its profile) on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedar.com.

  7. Means of Giving Notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the by-laws, notice given to the Secretary of the Corporation pursuant to this Advance Notice By-law may only be given by personal delivery, facsimile transmission or by email (at such email address as stipulated from time to time by the Secretary of the Corporation for the purposes of this Advance Notice By-law), and shall be deemed to have been given and made only at the time it is served by personal delivery, received by email (at the address as aforesaid) or sent by facsimile transmission (provided that receipt of confirmation of such transmission has been received) to the Secretary of the Corporation at the address of the head office of the Corporation; provided that if such delivery or electronic

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communication is made on a day that is not a business day or later than 5:00 p.m. (local time at the head office of the Corporation) on a day that is a business day, then such delivery or electronic communication shall be deemed to have been made on the first subsequent day that is a business day.

  1. Waiver of Notice Requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its sole discretion, waive any requirement in this Advance Notice By-law or may delegate such discretion to the Chair of any meeting of the Shareholders.

  2. Inconsistencies with Other By-Laws. In the event any provision of any other by-law of the Corporation now in force is inconsistent with or in conflict with any provision of this Advance Notice By-law, the provisions of this Advance Notice By-law will govern and prevail to the extent necessary to remove the inconsistency or conflict.