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Bonterra Energy Corp.

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FY2015 Annual Report · Bonterra Energy Corp.
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Efficient.
Sustainable.
Disciplined.

BONTERRA ENERGY CORP. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT

1 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

Efficient. Sustainable. Disciplined.

BONTERRA ENERGY CORP. IS A DIVIDEND-PAYING, CONVENTIONAL OIL AND GAS COMPANY 
FOCUSED ON GROWING FUNDS FLOW, PRODUCTION AND RESERVES ON A PER SHARE BASIS. 
THE COMPANY’S HIGH QUALITY ASSET BASE, CONSERVATIVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND 
STRONG CAPITAL EFFICIENCIES POSITION BONTERRA FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY 
ACROSS A VARIETY OF COMMODITY PRICE CYCLES.

HIGH QUALITY ASSETS

Bonterra’s  assets  are  concentrated  in  the  Pembina  Cardium,  a  well- 
delineated, low-risk reservoir containing an estimated 10.6 billion barrels 
of oil in place with less than 13% produced to date. As one of the area’s 
largest operators, Bonterra has over 200 net sections of land and over 
20  years  of  drilling  inventory  including  230+  net  booked  and  770+  net 
identified  low-risk  locations.  Access  to  infrastructure  supports  high 
netback, low-decline, and light oil production growth. 

Low Production 
Decline

18%

DRIVING DOWN WELL COSTS 

Per well capital costs to drill, complete and tie-in (DC&T) were lowered in 
2015 by approximately 27% through a combination of increased technology, 
pad  drilling  and  lower  industry  cost  structure.  Bonterra’s  improved 
operational efficiencies contributed to significant structural cost reductions 
that can be maintained through future cost fluctuations. Further, increased 
collaboration on frac design and reservoir simulations enabled the Company 
to streamline drilling and completion techniques while building important 
intellectual capital that supports enhanced efficiencies going forward. 

DC&T Costs 
27%

IMPROVED GAS TRANSPORTATION 

increased 

in  2015,  Bonterra 

Late 
its  firm  transportation  service 
commitments  from  30%  previously  to  90%  going  forward,  which  
greatly  improves  access  to  markets.  The  importance  of  consistent 
and  reliable  infrastructure  was  demonstrated  during  2015  as  Bonterra 
experienced  production  impacts  caused  by  non-operated  facility  and 
transportation issues.  

90%

Natural Gas Production  
on Firm Transportation 

ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ___________________________________________ 2
QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS  _______________________________________ 3
MESSAGE TO SHAREHOLDERS __________________________________ 4
OPERATIONS ____________________________________________________ 6
STATISTICAL REVIEW ___________________________________________ 8
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS __________________11
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ______________________________________ 28
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  ______________________ 32
CORPORATE INFORMATION ____________________________________ 49

REDUCED OPERATING COSTS

Bonterra successfully reduced 2015 operating expenses (opex) per BOE by 
approximately 14% over 2014 through a combination of field optimizations 
leading  to  reduced  well  maintenance,  more  efficient  produced-water 
handling  and  decreased  chemical  costs.  The  Company  will  continue  to 
control expenses and seek opportunities for further opex reductions through 
reduced trucking, waterflood support and lower labour costs. 

2015 OPEX
14%

to $11.95 per BOE

FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY SUPPORTS GROWTH

Bonterra  continues  to  explore  ways  to  enhance  recoveries  and  reduce 
costs  through  the  use  of  technology  and  increased  well  density,  and 
will prudently allocate capital to opportunities offering the best results 
and  highest  economic  returns.  Maintaining  financial  flexibility  enables 
Bonterra  to  grow  production  and  reduce  debt,  while  positioning  the 
Company to increase capital spending, dividends or a combination of the 
two when commodity prices stabilize at higher levels. 

P+P RESERVES GROWTH 
(mmboe)

RESERVES PER SHARE
(proved + probable reserves)

90.6

80.3

75.0

41.1 45.0

100

80

60

40

20

0

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

2.78

2.47 2.50

2.28

2.13

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

1

ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS

As at and for the year ended ($ 000s except $ per share)

FINANCIAL

Revenue – realized oil and gas sales
Funds flow(5)

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Payout ratio

Cash flow from operations

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Payout ratio

Cash dividends per share

Earnings before income taxes

Net earnings (loss)

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Capital expenditures, net of dispositions

Acquisition

Total assets

Working capital deficiency

Long-term debt

Shareholders’ equity

OPERATIONS

Oil   

  – bbl per day

  – average price ($ per bbl)

NGLs 

  – bbl per day

  – average price ($ per bbl)

Natural gas   – mcf per day

  – average price ($ per mcf)

Total barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day(6)

  DECEMBER 31,

2015(1)

  December 31, 
2014

  December 31,

2013(3)

197,239

117,948

3.61

3.61

54%

339,694

209,665

6.57

6.54

54%

295,675

181,574

6.01

5.99

55%

107,871

222,353

173,896

 3.30 

 3.30 

59%

1.95

 1,982 

 (9,080)

 (0.28)

 (0.28)

58,498
170,430(2)

 6.97 

 6.94 

51%

3.54

109,593

38,761

1.21

1.21

155,565

 - 

5.76

5.74

58%

3.33

84,782

62,758

2.08

2.07

119,227
 502,258(4) 

1,183,593

1,042,938

1,000,531

29,804

332,471

595,805

8,641

 54.08 

733

 20.80 

19,694

 2.94 

12,656

53,642

154,723

635,198

8,582

 90.61 

807

 52.26 

22,833

 4.86 

13,195

35,985

156,764

667,641

7,787

 89.26 

744

 52.41 

21,954

 3.46 

12,190

(1)   Annual figures for 2015 include the results of a purchase (the Acquisition) of primarily Pembina Cardium oil and gas assets (Pembina Assets) for the period of  

April 15, 2015 to December 31, 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2015, production includes 260 days for the Pembina Assets and 365 days for the original 
Bonterra assets. 

(2)   Represents the Acquisition that closed April 15, 2015 for $170,430,000.
(3)   Annual figures for 2013 include the results of a corporate acquisition for the period of January 25, 2013 to December 31, 2013. For the year ended December 31, 

2013, production includes 341 days for the corporate acquisition and 365 days for the original Bonterra assets. 

(4)   Represents a plan of arrangement, where Bonterra completed a corporate acquisition. The Company issued 10,711,405 common shares valued at $502,258,000 

which included $10,000,000 of acquired cash. 

(5)   Funds flow is not a recognized measure under IFRS. For these purposes, the Company defines funds flow as funds provided by operations including proceeds from 

sale of investments and investment income received excluding the effects of changes in non-cash working capital items and decommissioning  
expenditures settled.

(6)   BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of 6 MCF: 1 bbl is based on an energy conversion method primarily applicable at the 

burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

2 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

As at and for the periods ended ($ 000s except $ per share)

Q4

2015

Q3

Q2(1)

Q1

FINANCIAL

Revenue – realized oil and gas sales
Funds flow(2)

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Payout ratio

 44,678 

 24,046 

 0.71 

 0.71 

62%

 52,160 

 28,754 

 0.87 

 0.87 

52%

 57,921 

 43,058 

 1.34 

 1.34 

34%

 42,480 

 22,090 

 0.69 

 0.69 

87%

Cash flow from operations

 27,808 

 36,024 

 17,960 

 26,079 

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Payout ratio

Cash dividends per share

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

Net earnings (loss)

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Capital expenditures and acquisitions, net of dispositions

Total assets

Working capital deficiency

Long-term debt

Shareholders’ equity

OPERATIONS

Oil   

  – bbl per day

  – average price ($ per bbl)

NGLs 

  – bbl per day

  – average price ($ per bbl)

Natural gas   – mcf per day

  – average price ($ per mcf)

Total barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day(5)

 0.84 

 0.84 

56%

 0.45 

(5,223)

(4,113)

(0.13)

(0.13)

 8,384 

 1.09 

 1.09 

41%

 0.45 

 746 

(321)

(0.01)

(0.01)

 14,402 

 0.56 

 0.56 

81%

 0.45 

 8,676 

(2,711)

(0.08)

 0.81 

 0.81 

74%

 0.60 

(2,217)

(1,935)

(0.06)

(0.08)
 167,182(3) 

(0.06)
 38,960(4) 

 1,183,593 

 1,200,856 

 1,225,291 

 1,072,534 

 29,804 

 332,471 

 595,805 

 8,424 

 49.50 

 710 

 21.49 

 20,423 

 2.61 

 12,538 

 29,080 

 335,863 

 610,793 

 9,177 

 53.26 

 753 

 18.05 

 19,191 

 3.36 

 13,129 

 27,558 

 361,430 

 599,911 

 8,823 

 64.27 

 677 

 21.35 

 19,452 

 2.83 

 12,743 

 37,633 

 207,217 

 613,886 

 8,128 

 48.70 

 791 

 22.36 

 19,709 

 2.97 

 12,204 

(1)   Quarterly figures for Q2 2015 include the results of a purchase (the Acquisition) of primarily Pembina Cardium oil and gas assets (Pembina Assets) for the period of 

April 15, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Production includes 76 days for the Pembina Assets and 91 days for the original Bonterra assets.

(2)   Funds flow is not a recognized measure under IFRS. For these purposes, the Company defines funds flow as funds provided by operations including proceeds from 

sale of investments and investment income received excluding the effects of changes in non-cash working capital items and decommissioning  
expenditures settled.

(3)   Includes $153,230,000 (less a deposit of $17,200,000) for the Acquisition that closed on April 15, 2015 and capital expenditures of $13,952,000.
(4)   Includes a deposit of $17,200,000 for the Acquisition and capital expenditures of $21,760,000. 
(5)   BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of 6 MCF: 1 bbl is based on an energy conversion method primarily applicable at the 

burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MESSAGE TO SHAREHOLDERS

BONTERRA ENERGY CORP. (BONTERRA OR THE COMPANY) CONTINUED TO REALIZE  
FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL SUCCESS THROUGH 2015 DESPITE AN EXTREMELY 
CHALLENGING COMMODITY PRICE ENVIRONMENT. WHILE GLOBAL COMMODITY PRICES ARE 
OUT OF THE COMPANY’S CONTROL, BONTERRA CHOSE TO FOCUS ON FACTORS THAT IT IS 
ABLE TO MANAGE TO ENSURE FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY, FUTURE GROWTH AND LONG-TERM 
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY. 

Bonterra focused on several areas in 2015, including:

•  Cost Reductions: Bonterra has always maintained a 

low cost structure, and was especially successful with 
cost reduction efforts in 2015. The all-in corporate costs 
of approximately Cdn$20.00 per BOE including royalties, 
operating expense (including transportation costs), 
administrative expense and interest on long-term debt is one 
of the lowest in the industry. This reflects a reduction in per 
BOE production costs by 14% and administrative costs by 
32% from the same period one year ago. In 2016, Bonterra 
will seek further reductions in capital for drilling, completions 
and infrastructure costs, for operating costs and for general 
and administrative expenses. 

•  Capital Efficiencies: Bonterra successfully reduced per 

well capital costs by 27% in 2015, through a combination of 
pad drilling from sites with existing infrastructure, general 
service cost reductions, fewer drilling days per well and better 
efficiencies in the field. New drilling and completions practices 
were advanced as a result of the Company’s work on optimal 
frac design and assessment of horizontal lateral lengths. 

•  Managing Financial Flexibility: Bonterra’s current net debt 

is higher than previous years which is an area of concern for 
the Company. It is presently at approximately 3.1 to 1.0  
times net debt to funds flow on a four quarter trailing basis, 
resulting from a strategic acquisition. The Company’s goal 

is to reduce this ratio in the future to a range of 1.5 to 1.0 
times when commodity prices have recovered or 2.5 to 1.0 
times during periods when commodity prices remain low.

•  Access to Infrastructure: The importance of consistent and 
reliable infrastructure was demonstrated during 2015 as 
Bonterra experienced production impacts caused by non-
operated facility and transportation issues. Bonterra’s firm 
service commitments have increased from 30% to 90% in 2015 
and greatly improved its access to markets going forward. 

•  Future Growth Potential: Bonterra has one of the largest 

inventories of economic undrilled locations amongst its peer 
group with an estimated 20 years of undrilled locations in 
inventory. If commodity prices continue to be low and fewer 
wells are drilled annually, this economic undrilled location 
inventory increases to approximately 30 years, offering 
substantial future growth potential.

•  Conservative Business Approach: The Company continues 
to be cautious and conservative regarding the determination 
of future reserves bookings. With only approximately 30% 
of its undrilled well locations included in the reserves 
evaluation, Bonterra has positioned the Company well to 
capture future upside.

•  Balance Sheet Protection: Bonterra has a history of 

protecting long-term shareholder returns and demonstrated 
this again in 2015. In addition to cost reduction initiatives 

4 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

PRODUCTION/RESERVES PER SHARE

0.16
0.14
0.12
0.10
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00

2.13

2.28

2.47

2.50

2.78

0.119

0.124

0.147

0.150

0.139

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

Production per Share 

    P+P Reserves per Share

“In 2015, Bonterra’s proved plus 
probable reserves per share grew 
11%, and its reserve life index 
was approximately 20 years.”

in the current weak price environment, Bonterra also 
reduced the monthly dividend to balance spending with 
funds flow and to protect its balance sheet. This will 
ensure the Company can positively respond should there 
be a sustained improvement in commodity prices. With 
increased funds flow, the Company will increase the 
capital program, reduce debt, increase dividends or some 
combination thereof. This will continue to be analyzed on a 
month to month basis.

•  Maximizing Asset Value: In 2015, Bonterra piloted its first 
waterfloods in two areas in Carnwood with two horizontal 
water injection wells. The waterfloods are still early-staged, 
but the initial results are encouraging. Future waterflood 
expansion may improve recoveries of the large amount of 
remaining oil in place in the Pembina Cardium field, resulting 
in greater long-term value creation for shareholders.

OUTLOOK

For 2016, Bonterra’s initial capital expenditures budget is set at 
approximately $40 million but capital spending will be reviewed 
by the Company on a monthly basis. With this level of capital, 
Bonterra estimates 2016 production will average approximately 
12,500  BOE  per  day.  Further  cost  reductions  and  improved 
capital  efficiencies  through  pad  drilling  and  new  completions 
technologies  will  be  pursued.  With  a  low  corporate  decline 
rate,  minimal  capital  is  required  to  hold  production  volumes 
flat  and  if  needed,  Bonterra  can  reduce  capital  further  until 
prices improve. The large inventory of economic drill locations 
supports  substantial  production  growth  when  commodity 
prices  are  high  while  still  generating  positive  returns  through 
periods of weak commodity prices.

Following  its  review  of  Alberta’s  royalty  structure,  the  Alberta 
Provincial  Government  released  its  proposed  Modernized 

Royalty  Framework  (MRF)  on  January  29,  2016,  which  is 
scheduled to take effect January 1, 2017. With limited details, 
the  future  impact  of  the  review  is  presently  impossible  to 
assess.  The  Government  and  the  resource 
industry  are 
continuing to negotiate and further details are scheduled to be 
released by the end of March 2016. Until full details of the MRF 
are  released,  Bonterra  cannot  confirm  what  impact  this  will 
have on the Company. As more information becomes available, 
the Company will be able to better assess and provide details 
for its shareholders.

The  Company  will  continue  pursuing  its  sustainable  growth 
strategy  by  minimizing  the  amount  of  debt  and  managing 
its  dividend  in  a  responsible  manner.  Bonterra  will  continue 
to  focus  on  operational  efficiencies,  financial  discipline, 
and  optimal  returns  for  shareholders,  independent  of  the 
weaker  commodity  prices  and  provincial  and  federal  political 
uncertainty. The future for Bonterra remains positive over the 
long  term  as  the  Company  will  continue  to  be  conservatively 
managed to effectively withstand future challenging commodity 
price environments.

The Board of Directors wishes to thank the employees for their 
contribution  and  Bonterra’s  shareholders  for  their  continued 
support during these very difficult times.

GEORGE F. FINK 
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

5

OPERATIONS

BONTERRA IS FOCUSED ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS ASSET BASE THROUGH  
A DISCIPLINED PACE OF DEVELOPMENT AND EFFICIENT OPERATING PRACTICES. THE COMPANY 
HAS A HIGH-QUALITY LAND BASE CONCENTRATED IN THE LARGE PEMBINA CARDIUM OIL POOL 
WITH YEARS OF DRILLING INVENTORY AND UPSIDE POTENTIAL. A LOW PRODUCTION DECLINE 
RATE AND CONSERVATIVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT BONTERRA’S ATTRACTIVE 
DIVIDEND-PLUS-GROWTH MODEL.

EFFICIENT

DRILLING ADVANCEMENTS

Bonterra  drove  down  capital  costs  per  well  while  improving 
recoveries  through  pad  drilling,  increased  well  spacing  density 
and  being  a  pioneer  of  a  sliding  sleeve  completion  technology 
across  its  Cardium  acreage.  A  significant  portion  of  the  cost 
reductions  are  structural  in  nature,  meaning  Bonterra  can 
continue  to  realize  savings  when  commodity  prices  improve. 
Operating  costs  per  BOE  have  also  been  reduced  through  a 
combination  of  field  optimization  and  reductions  in  service 
company  rates.  Bonterra’s  firm  transportation  arrangements  
for  natural  gas  increased  to  90%  commencing  in  late  2015 
and  provide  more  consistent  access  to  markets  and  reduced 
production disruptions. 

SUSTAINABLE

Bonterra’s assets are concentrated in the Pembina Cardium pool 
in central Alberta, one of Canada’s largest oil fields characterized 
by low-risk drilling opportunities, stable production rates and high-
quality light oil. To date, less than 13% of the estimated 10.6 billion 
barrels of oil in place has been produced, which offers significant 
long-term  development  potential.  The  Company  has  a  very 
low  production  decline  rate  and  its  conservative  2015  reserves 
booking does not fully reflect improvements in well performance 
from  enhanced  completions.  Bonterra’s  low  P+P  Finding  and 
Development (F&D) costs(1) of $3.12 per BOE generated a strong 
recycle  ratio  of  8.9  times.  Bonterra’s  booked  reserves  currently 
represent only 30% of its internally estimated inventory of future 
undrilled locations supporting long-term sustainability.

DISCIPLINED

Exercising  conservative  financial  management  and  preserving 
balance sheet strength remain key priorities in Bonterra’s disciplined 
approach. With ongoing weakness in commodity prices, Bonterra 
continues  to  assess  its  results  monthly  and  set  the  monthly 
dividend level based on the prior month’s actual funds flow. This 
disciplined approach affords greater flexibility to adjust spending 
allocated  to  capital,  dividends  and  debt  reduction  and  enhances 
Bonterra’s ability to deliver attractive returns to shareholders.

Bonterra continues to seek ways to add incremental production, 
including  through  the  implementation  of  a  waterflood  program 
in Carnwood, as well as increasing drilling density to expand our 
inventory of future well locations. Bonterra has over 20 years of 
drilling opportunities, not including any targets in the Belly River 
or other deeper zones in the Pembina field, nor any potential from 
our  Saskatchewan  or  British  Columbia  lands.  In  addition,  we 
fully transitioned to cased-hole versus open-hole packers for our 
completions in 2015 which allows for pinpointed frac placement. 
As  a  result  of  the  advances  in  completion  technology  coupled 
with  horizontal,  multi-well  pad  drilling,  our  capital  efficiencies 
have improved.

R 14

R 13

R 12

R 11

R 10

R 2

R 1W 5

R 8

R 7

R 6

R 9

R 4

R 5

R 3

T 53

T 52

T 51

T 50

T 49

T 48

T 47

T 46

T 45

T 44

T 43

T 42

T 41

T 40

T 39

T 38

Bonterra Cardium Lands

T 53

T 52

T 51

T 50

T 49

T 48

T 47

T 46

T 45

T 44

T 43

T 42

T 41

T 40

T 39

T 38

R 14

R 13

R 12

R 11

R 10

R 9

R 8

R 7

R 6

R 5

R 4

R 3

R 2

R 1W 5

(1)  Including change in future development capital.

6 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

770+

Bonterra has a strong position 
in the Pembina Cardium  
with             net identified  
low-risk drilling locations  
to support long-term  
production growth

CORPORATE 
DECLINE RATE
18%

Enhanced completion 
techniques with increased 
frac stages and sliding sleeve 
technology improves  
capital efficiencies

12,500 

boe/d 
2016e production 

CAPITAL
EFFICIENCIES
$13,300

per boe/d

In 2015, Bonterra piloted its first waterflood in Carnwood with a  
positive production response. The waterflood can be expanded field-wide  
over time to increase the ultimate oil recovery from the pool. 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

7

STATISTICAL REVIEW

SUMMARY OF GROSS OIL AND GAS RESERVES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015

PROVED

  Developed Producing

  Developed Non-producing

  Undeveloped

TOTAL PROVED

PROBABLE
TOTAL PROVED + PROBABLE(1) (2) (3)

Light &
Medium  
Crude Oil

  Associated &  
 Non-Associated  
Gas 

  Natural Gas 
Liquids

  Oil equivalent(4)

Future  
  Development  
Capital

(MBbl)

 (MMcf) 

 (MBbl)

 (MBOE)

(000s)

26,276

1,293

19,467

47,036

12,522

59,558

57,900 

7,685 

45,587 

111,172 

34,957 

146,128 

2,693

239

2,186

5,118

1,590

6,708

38,619

2,813

29,251

70,683

19,938

90,621

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

 -

2,219 

495,571 

497,792 

20,753 

518,544 

(1)  Reserves have been presented on gross basis which are the Company’s total working interest share before the deduction of any royalties and without including any 

royalty interests of the Company.
(2)  Totals may not add due to rounding.
(3)  Based on Sproule’s December 31, 2015 escalated price deck.
(4)  Oil equivalent amounts have been calculated using a conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil.

RECONCILIATION OF COMPANY GROSS RESERVES BY PRINCIPAL PRODUCT TYPE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015(1) (2)

Light & Medium Crude Oil
  Proved +  
  Probable

Proved

(MBbl)

(MBbl)

Associated &  
Non-Associated Gas

  Proved +  
  Probable

Natural Gas Liquids 
  Proved + 
  Probable

Proved

(MMcf)

(MBbl)

(MBbl)

Oil Equivalent

Proved

(MBOE)

  Proved +  
  Probable

(MBOE)

Proved

(MMcf)

Opening Balance,  
December 31, 2014

Extensions & Improved  

Recovery(2)

Technical Revisions

  Discoveries

Acquisitions
  Dispositions(4)

Economic Factors

Production

CLOSING BALANCE, 
DECEMBER 31, 2015

40,529

51,719

108,128

138,887

4,245

5,381

62,795

80,248

1,480

215

-

1,864

(1,366)

-

8,665

11,186

(119)

(592)

(150)

(553)

(3,142)

(3,142)

3,171

3,989

-

9,077

(176)

(5,870)

(7,146)

4,012

1,341

-

11,988

(220)

(2,733)

(7,146)

123

640

-

565

(6)

(182)

(266)

156

763

- 

749

(8)

(68)

(266)

2,132

1,520

-

2,688

(379)

- 

10,743

13,934

(154)

(1,752)

(4,599)

(194)

(1,077)

(4,599)

47,036

59,558

111,172

146,128

5,118

6,708

70,684

90,621

(1)  Gross Reserves means the Company’s working interest reserves before calculation of royalties, and before consideration of the Company’s royalty interests.
(2)  Increases to Extensions & Improved Recovery include infill drilling.
(3)  Totals may not add due to rounding.
(4)  Includes volumes associated with Farm outs.

8 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SUMMARY OF NET PRESENT VALUES OF FUTURE NET REVENUE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015

($M)

Reserves Category

PROVED

  Developed Producing

  Developed Non-producing

  Undeveloped

TOTAL PROVED

PROBABLE
TOTAL PROVED + PROBABLE(1) (2) (3)

Net Present Value Before Income Taxes Discounted at (% per Year)

0%

5%

10%

15%

1,444,628

64,757

815,905

2,325,289

921,885

3,247,175

960,825

45,010

472,671

1,478,506

487,963

1,966,469

713,773

33,355

295,647

1,042,775

321,798

1,364,573

567,804

25,984

192,317

786,105

238,564

1,024,669

(1)  Evaluated by Sproule as at December 31, 2015. Net present value of future net revenue does not represent fair value of the reserves.
(2)  Net present values equals net present value before income taxes based on Sproule’s forecast prices and costs as of December 31, 2015. There is no assurance that 

the forecast price and cost assumptions will be attained and variances could be material.

(3)  Includes abandonment and reclamation costs as defined in NI 51-101.

FINDING, DEVELOPMENT & ACQUISITION (FD&A) AND FINDING & DEVELOPMENT (F&D) COSTS

Proved Reserve Net Additions

Proved + Probable Reserve Net Additions

2015

2014

2013

3 Yr Avg(4)

2015

2014

2013

3 Yr Avg(4)

FD&A COSTS PER BOE(1) (2) (3)

Including FDC

Excluding FDC

F&D COSTS PER BOE(1) (2) (3)

Including FDC

Excluding FDC

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

11.52 $ 

18.90  $ 

24.80  $ 

20.02 

15.50 $ 

11.57  $ 

23.63  $ 

18.48 

4.76 $ 

18.89  $ 

21.38  $ 

18.57 

33.26 $ 

11.53  $ 

17.10  $ 

14.99 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

11.60  $ 

22.67  $ 

21.06  $ 

18.95 

15.29  $ 

15.54  $ 

20.12  $ 

18.13 

3.12  $ 

22.71  $ 

18.63  $ 

19.92 

56.32  $ 

15.53  $ 

14.66  $ 

17.37 

(1)  Barrels of Oil Equivalent may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of 6 MCF: 1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion 

method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

(2)  The aggregate of the exploration and development costs incurred in the most recent financial year and the change during that year in estimated future development 

costs generally will not reflect total finding and development costs related to reserve additions for that year.

(3)  FD&A and F&D costs are net of proceeds of disposal and the FD&A costs per BOE are based on reserves acquired net of reserves disposed of.
(4)  Three year average is calculated using three year total capital costs and reserve additions on both a Proved and Proved + Probable reserves on a weighted  

average basis. 

COMMODITY PRICES USED IN THE ABOVE CALCULATIONS OF RESERVES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Edmonton
Par Price

Natural Gas
AECO-C Spot

Butanes
Edmonton

Pentanes
Edmonton

 Operating Cost 
 Inflation Rate

Exchange
Rate 

($Cdn per bbl)

($Cdn per mmbtu)

($Cdn per bbl)

($Cdn per bbl)

(% per Yr)

($US/$Cdn)

FORECAST

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

55.20

69.00

78.43

89.41

91.71

93.08

2.25

2.95

3.42

3.91

4.20

4.28

39.09

51.43

58.46

66.64

68.35

69.38

59.10

73.88

83.98

95.73

98.19

99.66

0.0

0.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

0.750

0.800

0.830

0.850

0.850

0.850

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

9

 
 
 
 
PRODUCTION

Alberta

Saskatchewan

British Columbia

LAND HOLDINGS

Alberta

Saskatchewan

British Columbia

OILS & NGLS
(BBL PER DAY)

2015
NATURAL GAS
(MCF PER DAY)

TOTAL
(BOE PER DAY)

9,244

120

10

9,374

19,013

12,413

184

498

150

93

19,694

12,656

2015

2014

GROSS ACRES

NET ACRES

Gross Acres

296,684

8,891

62,045

367,620

179,503

6,200

22,639

208,342

245,263

9,576

62,045

316,884

Net Acres

150,835

6,509

22,639

179,983

PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS EXPENDITURES

The following table summarizes petroleum and natural gas capital expenditures incurred by Bonterra on acquisitions, land, and 
exploration and development costs for the years ended December 31:

($ 000s)

Land

Acquisitions

Dispositions

Exploration and development costs

Net petroleum and natural gas capital expenditures

DRILLING HISTORY

The following tables summarize Bonterra’s gross and net drilling activity and success:

2015 

479

170,430

-

58,019

228,928

2014 

402

-

(1,152)

155,262

154,512

Crude oil

Natural gas

Total

Success rate

Crude oil

Natural gas

Total

Success rate

2015

DEVELOPMENT

EXPLORATORY

TOTAL

GROSS

26.0

-

26.0

100%

NET

17.5

-

17.5

100%

GROSS

NET

GROSS

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

26.0

-

26.0

100%

Development

Gross

65.0

-

65.0

100%

Net

47.5

-

47.5

100%

2014

Exploratory

Gross

Net

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total

Gross

65.0

-

65.0

100%

NET

17.5

-

17.5

100%

Net

47.5

-

47.5

100%

10 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The  following  report  dated  March  17,  2016  is  a  review  of  the  operations  and  current  financial  position  for  the  year  ended  
December 31, 2015 for Bonterra Energy Corp. (Bonterra or the Company) and should be read in conjunction with the audited 
financial statements presented under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), including the notes related thereto.

USE OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) the Company uses the terms “payout ratio”, “cash netback” and 
“net debt” to analyze operating performance, which are not standardized measures recognized under IFRS and do not have a 
standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. These measures are commonly used in the oil and gas industry and are considered 
informative by management, shareholders and analysts. These measures may differ from those made by other companies and 
accordingly may not be comparable to such measures as reported by other companies. 

The Company calculates payout ratio as a percentage by dividing cash dividends paid to shareholders by cash flow from operating 
activities, both of which are measures prescribed by IFRS which appear on our statements of cash flows. We calculate cash 
netback by dividing various financial statement items as determined by IFRS by total production for the period on a barrel of oil 
equivalent basis.

FREQUENTLY RECURRING TERMS

Bonterra uses the following frequently recurring terms in this MD&A: “WTI” refers to West Texas Intermediate, a grade of light 
sweet crude oil used as benchmark pricing in the United States; “MSW Stream Index” or “Edmonton Par” refers to the mixed sweet 
blend that is the benchmark price for conventionally produced light sweet crude oil in Western Canada; “bbl” refers to barrel; “NGL” 
refers to natural gas liquids; “MCF” refers to thousand cubic feet; “MMBTU” refers to million British Thermal Units; and “BOE” refers 
to barrels of oil equivalent. Disclosure provided herein in respect of a BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation.  
A BOE conversion ratio of 6 MCF: 1 bbl is based on an energy conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does 
not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. 

NUMERICAL AMOUNTS

The reporting and the functional currency of the Company is the Canadian dollar.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

11

ANNUAL COMPARISONS

As at and for the year ended ($ 000s except $ per share)

FINANCIAL

Revenue – realized oil and gas sales

Cash flow from operations

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Payout ratio

Cash dividends per share

Net earnings (loss)

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Capital expenditures and acquisitions, net of dispositions

Total assets

Working capital deficiency

Long-term debt

Shareholders’ equity

OPERATIONS

Oil   

  – barrels per day

  – average price ($ per barrel)

NGLs 

  – barrels per day

  – average price ($ per barrel)

Natural gas   – MCF per day

  – average price ($ per MCF)

Total barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE)

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015(1)

  December 31,  
2014

  December 31, 
2013(3)

197,239

107,871

 3.30 

 3.30 

59%

1.95

(9,080)

(0.28)

(0.28)
228,928(2)

1,183,593

29,804

332,471

595,805

8,641

54.08

733

20.80

19,694

2.94

12,656

339,694

222,353

6.97

6.94

51%

3.54

38,761

 1.21 

 1.21 

155,565

1,042,938

53,642

154,723

635,198

8,582

90.61

807

52.26

22,833

4.86

13,195

295,675

173,896

5.76

5.74

58%

3.33

62,758

 2.08 

 2.07 
621,485(4)

1,000,531

35,985

156,764

667,641

7,787

89.26

744

52.41

21,954

3.46

12,190

(1)  Annual figures for 2015 include the results of a purchase (the Acquisition) of primarily Pembina Cardium oil and gas assets (Pembina Assets) for the period of April 

15, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Production includes 260 days for the Pembina Assets and 365 days for the original Bonterra assets. 

(2)  Represents the Acquisition that closed April 15, 2015 for $170,430,000.
(3)  Annual figures for 2013 include the results of an acquired corporation (the Corporation), for the period of January 25, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Production 

includes 341 days for the Corporation and 365 days for the original Bonterra assets. 

(4)  Includes the acquisition of the Corporation, through a plan of arrangement that closed on January 25, 2013. The Company issued 10,711,405 common shares 

valued at $502,258,000 which included $10,000,000 of acquired cash. Capital expenditures, net of dispositions were $119,227,000 excluding the acquisition.

12 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
QUARTERLY COMPARISONS

As at and for the periods ended ($ 000s except $ per share)

Q4

2015

Q3

Q2(1)

Q1

FINANCIAL

Revenue – oil and gas sales

Cash flow from operations

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Payout ratio

Cash dividends per share

Net earnings (loss)

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Capital expenditures and acquisitions, net of dispositions

Total assets

Working capital deficiency

Long-term debt 

Shareholders’ equity

OPERATIONS

Oil (barrels per day)

NGLs (barrels per day)

Natural gas (MCF per day)

Total BOE per day

44,678

27,808

 0.84 

 0.84 

54%

 0.45 

(4,113)

(0.13)

(0.13)

8,384

1,183,593

29,804

332,471

595,805

8,424

710

20,423

12,538

52,160

36,024

 1.09 

 1.09 

41%

 0.45 

(321)

(0.01)

(0.01)

14,402

1,200,856

29,080

335,863

610,793

9,177

753

19,191

13,129

57,921

17,960

 0.56 

 0.56 

81%

 0.45 

(2,711)

(0.08)

(0.08)
167,182(2)

42,480

26,079

 0.81 

 0.81 

74%

 0.60 

(1,935)

(0.06)

(0.06)
38,960(3)

1,225,291

1,072,534

27,558

361,430

599,911

8,823

677

19,452

12,743

37,633

207,217

613,886

8,128

791

19,709

12,204

(1)  Quarterly figures for Q2 2015 include the results of the Pembina Assets, for the period of April 15, 2015 to June 30, 2015. Production includes 76 days for the 

acquired Pembina Assets and 91 days for the original Bonterra assets.

(2)  Includes $153,230,000 (less a deposit of $17,200,000) for the Acquisition that closed on April 15, 2015 and capital expenditures of $13,952,000.
(3)  Includes a deposit of $17,200,000 for the Acquisition and capital expenditures of $21,760,000.

As at and for the periods ended ($ 000s except $ per share)

Q4

2014

Q3

Q2

Q1

FINANCIAL

Revenue – oil and gas sales

Cash flow from operations

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Payout ratio

Cash dividends per share

Net earnings

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Capital expenditures and acquisitions, net of dispositions

Total assets

Working capital deficiency

Long-term debt 

Shareholders’ equity

OPERATIONS

Oil (barrels per day)

NGLs (barrels per day)

Natural gas (MCF per day)

Total BOE per day

68,940

50,465

1.57 

1.57 

57%

0.90
(32,877)(4)

(1.04)

(1.03)

20,605

1,042,938

53,642

154,723

635,198

8,762

911

22,883

13,488

88,959

65,705

 2.05 

 2.03 

44%

 0.90 

20,983

0.65

0.65

41,205

1,080,801

55,047

140,339

697,337

8,874

818

21,981

13,355

99,274

57,089

1.79 

1.78 

49%

0.87 

27,614

0.87

0.86

39,519

1,066,145

36,399

151,145

699,284

9,109

775

24,163

13,911

82,521

49,094

1.56 

1.55 

56%

 0.87

23,041

0.73

0.73

54,236

1,043,822

62,488

143,103

678,224

7,567

721

22,307

12,006

(4)  Net loss in the fourth quarter of 2014 is primarily due to an increase in deferred tax expense as a result of an agreement with Canada Revenue Agency.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND SENSITIVITIES 

Bonterra’s financial results are significantly influenced by fluctuations in commodity prices, including price differentials and foreign 
exchange. The following table depicts selective market benchmark prices and foreign exchange rates in the last eight quarters 
to assist in understanding volatility in prices and foreign exchange rates that have impacted Bonterra’s financial and operating 
performance. The increases or decreases for Bonterra’s realized price for oil and natural gas for each of the eight quarters is 
explained in detail in the following table.

Q4-2015

Q3-2015

Q2-2015

Q1-2015

Q4-2014

Q3-2014

Q2-2014

Q1-2014

Crude oil  
  WTI ($US per bbl)
WTI to MSW Stream Index  
  Differential ($US per bbl)(1)
Foreign exchange 
$US to $Cdn

Bonterra average realized  
oil price ($Cdn per bbl)

Natural gas  

AECO ($Cdn per mcf)

Bonterra average realized gas  

price ($Cdn per mcf)

42.18

46.43

57.94

48.63

73.15

97.17

102.99

98.68

(2.51)

(3.45)

(2.93)

(6.93)

(6.46)

(7.93)

(6.14)

(8.25)

1.3353

1.3094

1.2294

1.2411

1.1357

1.0893

1.0905

1.1035

49.50

53.26

64.27

48.70

71.37

92.73

102.36

96.53

2.45

2.61

2.89

3.36

2.64

2.83

2.74

2.97

3.58

3.92

4.00

4.54

4.67

4.85

5.69

6.16

(1)  This differential accounts for the major difference between WTI and Bonterra’s average realized price (before quality adjustments and foreign exchange).

The overall volatility in Bonterra’s average realized commodity pricing can be impacted by numerous events, some of which are:

•  Worldwide crude oil supply and demand imbalance;

•  Geo-political events that affect worldwide crude oil production;

•  The reduced value of the Canadian dollar compared to the US dollar continues to positively affect Bonterra’s realized prices;

•  Whether there is sufficient or new take-away capacity to transport energy commodities; 

•  Weather dependence; the warm winter across North America has created a larger imbalance of the increased gas and distillate 

(such as heating oil) production to demand; and

•  Timing of plant and refinery turnarounds.

In January 2016, WTI decreased to just over $30 US per bbl and has dropped under $30 US per bbl in February primarily due to the 
worldwide crude oil supply and demand imbalance partially driven by continued global production gains and high inventories that 
are delaying the effect of any supply/demand rebalancing. It is difficult to predict future pricing, but the Company expects crude 
oil prices to remain low for the remainder of 2016.

The following chart shows the Company’s sensitivity to key commodity price variables. The sensitivity calculations are performed 
independently showing the effect of the change of one variable; with all other variables being held constant.

ANNUALIZED SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS ON CASH FLOW, AS ESTIMATED FOR 2016(1)

Impact on cash flow

Realized crude oil price ($ per bbl)

Realized natural gas price ($ per mcf)

$US to $Cdn exchange rate

Change ($)

1.00

0.10

0.01

$000s

2,931

681

1,344

$ per share(2)

0.09

0.02

0.04

(1)  This analysis uses current royalty rates, annualized estimated average production of 12,500 BOE per day and no changes in working capital.
(2)  Based on annualized basic weighted average shares outstanding of 33,143,435.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW, STRATEGY AND KEY PERFORMANCE DRIVERS

Bonterra is an oil and gas company that is primarily focused on the development of its Cardium land within the Pembina and 
Willesden Green areas located in central Alberta. The Cardium reservoir is the largest conventional oil reservoir in western Canada 
that features large original oil in place with very low recoveries. Horizontal drilling with multi stage fracking drastically improves 
recoveries from areas developed with vertical drilling and extends the economic edge of the reservoir where vertical drilling is not 
economic. Bonterra operates 89 percent of its production with an average land working interest of 76 percent. At December 31, 
2015, Bonterra had a horizontal drilling inventory of approximately 773 net locations.

14 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
Even  with  the  significant  reduction  in  commodity  prices  in  comparison  to  2014,  the  Company  has  been  able  to  generate  
positive cash flow on an annual basis. Bonterra was able to reduce capital costs by 27 percent on a per well basis, production 
costs by 14 percent on a per BOE basis and general and administrative costs by 32 percent from the same period a year ago. 
The reductions were achieved through a combination of innovation, optimization, service cost reduction and a reduction of 
overall compensation. In further response to the continued volatile pricing environment for commodities and to maintain cash 
flow sustainability, the Company reduced the monthly dividend from $0.15 per share to $0.10 per share commencing with the 
January 2016 dividend. Should commodity prices improve, the Company also has flexibility to manage capital costs related to 
undrilled locations by allowing for accelerated development. 

On April 15, 2015, the Company acquired certain oil and gas assets (the Pembina Assets) from a senior oil and gas producer 
(the  Acquisition).  The  Pembina  Assets  are  Cardium  focused  in  the  Pembina  Area  of  Alberta,  with  a  production  base  that  is 
complementary to current Bonterra acreage, and which provides additional inventory of long-term drilling locations. Consideration 
for the Pembina Assets was $170,430,000. If Bonterra had closed the Acquisition on January 1, 2015, the Pembina Assets would 
have added approximately 1,700 BOE per day of production, oil and gas sales of approximately $29,098,000, royalty expenses 
of  approximately  $971,000  and  operating  expenses  of  approximately  $14,761,000  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2015.  
The combined production for the Company for the year would have been 13,147 BOE per day. The actual amounts recorded for the 
Pembina Assets include oil and gas sales of $21,260,000, royalty expenses of $593,000 and operating expenses of $10,448,000 
for the period from April 15, 2015 to December 31, 2015. The Pembina Assets are approximately 87 percent oil and NGL weighted 
with  a  low  decline  rate  of  seven  percent.  These  assets  also  include  136  net  future  potential  drilling  locations  and  supporting 
infrastructure. For more information about the Acquisition, refer to Note 5 of the December 31, 2015 audited financial statements.

During 2015, Bonterra spent approximately $58,498,000 on its capital program and drilled 20 gross (16.7 net) operated wells 
and completed and tied-in 24 gross (22.2 net) wells (of which 10 wells were drilled in 2014, but not completed until 2015). Of the  
20 operated wells drilled 6 (4.5 net) were completed and tied-in in the first quarter of 2016. In addition, 6 (0.8 net) non-operated 
wells were drilled and placed on production during 2015. The Company also added field compression to redirect gas production 
in the Carnwood area to two of its wholly owned plants in the Keystone Area. In December 2015, the Company set its capital 
expenditure budget for 2016 at approximately $40 million. With continued price erosion for oil in 2016, the Company continues to 
review capital spending on a month by month basis.

The Company averaged production of 12,656 BOE per day for the full year of 2015, which was between the annual guidance of 
12,600 to 12,900 BOE per day. During 2015 production was reduced by approximately 1,100 BOE per day from oil apportionments, 
gas capacity restrictions and voluntarily shutting-in uneconomic production due to low commodity prices. 

During 2015, the Company increased its natural gas firm service delivery with TransCanada Pipeline from under 7,000 mcf per day 
to over 19,000 mcf per day. Considering approximately 90 percent of Bonterra’s current natural gas production is from solution 
gas,  this  will  reduce  transportation  curtailments  associated  with  interruptible  service,  thereby  decreasing  the  restrictions  on 
oil  production.  The  Company  has  also  reactivated  some  of  its  restricted  production  as  a  result  of  redirecting  solution  gas  to 
alternative gas plants. To further alleviate future potential gas capacity issues, in the fourth quarter of 2015, Bonterra took over 
operatorship of a third gas plant in the Pembina Cardium area that it has ownership in. The ability to redirect gas to operated 
facilities should further reduce a portion of the shut-in issues experienced during the 2015 year while lowering gas processing 
costs. The Company is estimating that its average annual production for 2016 will be approximately 12,500 BOE per day, but it 
will be continuously adjusting annual production targets according to changing commodity prices and capital spending program. 

Bonterra’s successful operations are dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to, commodity prices, efficiently 
managing capital spending, monthly dividends, its ability to maintain desired levels of production, control over its infrastructure, 
its efficiency in developing and operating properties and its ability to control costs. The Company’s key measures of performance 
with  respect  to  these  drivers  include,  but  are  not  limited  to:  average  production  per  day,  average  realized  prices,  and  average 
operating costs per unit of production. Disclosure of these key performance measures can be found in the MD&A and/or previous 
interim or annual MD&A disclosures.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

15

DRILLING

 DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

 DECEMBER 31,  

2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

GROSS(1) NET(2)

Gross(1) Net(2)

Gross(1) Net(2) GROSS(1) NET(2)

Gross(1) Net(2)

Crude oil horizontal – operated

Crude oil horizontal – non-operated

Total

Success rate

 3

 3

 6

 1.5 

 0.4 

 1.9 

100%

 6 

 2 

 8 

 5.9 

 0.3 

 6.2 

100%

 10 

 - 

 10 

 9.9 

 - 

 9.9 

100%

 20 

 16.7 

 6 

 0.8 

 26 

 17.5 

100%

 43 

 22 

 65 

 42.6 

 4.9 

 47.5 

100%

(1)  “Gross” wells means the number of wells in which Bonterra has a working interest.
(2)  “Net” wells means the aggregate number of wells obtained by multiplying each gross well by Bonterra’s percentage of working interest.

During 2015, the Company placed 10 gross (9.9 net) wells on production that were drilled in the later part of 2014. In addition, 
the Company drilled 20 gross (16.7 net) wells, of which 14 gross (12.3 net) were placed on production in 2015 with the remaining  
six wells scheduled to be on production in the first quarter of 2016. As well, six gross (0.8 net) non-operated wells were drilled and 
placed on production during the year.

PRODUCTION

Crude oil (barrels per day)

NGLs (barrels per day)

Natural gas (MCF per day)

Average BOE per day

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

 8,424 

 710 

 20,423 

 12,538 

 9,177 

 753 

 19,191 

 13,129 

 8,762 

 911 

 22,883 

 13,488 

 8,641 

 733 

 19,694 

 12,656 

 8,582 

 807 

 22,833 

 13,195 

Production volumes during 2015 decreased to 12,656 BOE per day compared to 13,195 BOE per day in 2014. The decrease in 
production is primarily due to a significant reduction in development capital spending as Bonterra drilled 17.5 net wells in 2015 
versus 47.5 net wells in 2014. In addition to a reduction of capital spending caused by low commodity prices, the Company also 
voluntarily shut-in approximately 510 BOE per day until commodity prices improve. A further 590 BOE per day of production was 
also  shut-in  due  to  non-operated  facility  turnarounds,  oil  apportionments,  gas  capacity  restrictions  imposed  by  TransCanada 
Pipelines and further restrictions for a downstream non-operated meter station expansion. 

The decrease in production from a year ago was partially offset by an average of 1,700 BOE per day from the Pembina Assets, 
since the acquisition date of April 15, 2015. 

Quarter over quarter, production volumes decreased by 591 BOE per day primarily due to 700 BOE per day of production being 
voluntarily shut-in due to low commodity prices and a further 320 BOE per day being shut in due to non-operated facility restrictions. 
This was partially offset by six gross (3.4 net) new wells being placed on production in November of 2015. 

CASH NETBACK

The following table illustrates the calculation of the Company’s cash netback from operations for the periods ended:

$ per BOE

Production volumes (BOE)

Gross production revenue

Royalties

Production costs

Field netback

General and administrative

Interest and other

Cash netback

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

 1,153,476 

 1,207,856 

 1,240,864 

 4,619,277 

 4,816,030 

$ 

$ 

$ 

38.73 

$ 

43.18 

$ 

55.56 

$ 

42.70 

$ 

 (2.55)

 (11.81)

 (3.06)

 (12.06)

 (5.87)

 (12.50)

 (2.89)

 (11.95)

24.37 

$ 

28.06 

$ 

37.19 

$ 

27.86 

$ 

 (1.63)

 (2.98)

 (1.59)

 (2.63)

 (1.83)

 (1.16)

 (1.56)

 (2.60)

19.76 

$ 

23.84 

$ 

34.20 

$ 

23.70 

$ 

70.53 

 (7.91)

 (13.89)

48.73 

 (2.22)

 (1.12)

45.39 

16 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash netbacks have decreased in 2015 compared to 2014 primarily due to lower commodity prices and an increase in interest 
expense from funding the Pembina Assets with debt, which was partially offset by lower royalties, production costs and general 
and administration costs. Quarter over quarter cash netbacks decreased mainly due to lower crude oil and natural gas prices. 

OIL AND GAS SALES

Revenue – oil and gas sales  

($ 000s)

Average Realized Prices:

Crude oil ($ per barrel)

  NGLs ($ per barrel)

  Natural gas ($ per MCF)

Average ($ per BOE)

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

44,678

52,160

68,940

197,239

339,694

 49.50 

 21.49 

 2.61 

 38.73 

 53.26 

 18.05 

 3.36 

 43.18 

 71.37 

 37.49 

 3.92 

 55.56 

 54.08 

 20.80 

 2.94 

 42.70 

 90.61 

 52.26 

 4.86 

 70.53 

Revenue from oil and gas sales decreased by $142,455,000 in 2015 or 42 percent compared to 2014. This decrease was primarily 
due to a 39 percent decrease in commodity prices on a per BOE basis. 

The quarter over quarter decrease in oil and gas sales of $7,482,000 or 14 percent was primarily due to decreased crude oil and 
natural gas prices. 

The Company’s product split on a revenue basis for 2015 is approximately 89 percent weighted towards crude oil and NGLs.

ROYALTIES

($ 000s)

Crown royalties 
Freehold, gross overriding and  

other royalties

Total royalties
Crown royalties – percentage  

of revenue

Freehold, gross overriding and  

other royalties – percentage  
of revenue

Royalties – percentage of revenue

Royalties $ per BOE

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

1,901

1,039

2,940

4.3

2.3

6.6

2.55

2,398

1,301

3,699

4.6

2.5

7.1

3.06

5,021

2,259

7,280

7.3

3.3

10.6

5.87

8,007

5,354

13,361

4.1

2.7

6.8

2.89

23,779

14,331

38,110

7.0

4.2

11.2

7.91

Royalties paid by the Company consist of crown royalties paid to the Provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia 
and non-crown royalties. Royalties on a per BOE basis decreased by $5.02 per BOE for 2015 compared to 2014, primarily due to 
lower commodity prices. On a percentage of revenue basis royalty rates decreased due to lower crown royalty rates as a result 
of decreased commodity prices and less production from freehold properties, which are generally subject to higher royalty rates 
compared to crown royalty rates.

Quarter  over  quarter  royalties,  on  a  per  BOE  basis,  decreased  primarily  due  to  a  decrease  in  crude  oil  and  natural  gas  prices 
realized in the fourth quarter.

In 2016, the provincial government of Alberta announced the key highlights of a proposed Modernized Royalty Framework (MRF) 
that will be effective on January 1, 2017. These highlights include providing royalty incentives for the efficient development of 
conventional crude oil, natural gas, and NGL resources, no changes to the royalty structure of wells drilled prior to 2017 for a  
10 year period from the royalty program’s implementation date, the replacement of royalty credits or holidays on conventional 
wells by a revenue minus cost framework with a post-revenue minus cost royalty rate based on commodity prices, the reduction 
of royalty rates for mature wells, and a neutral internal rate of return for any given play compared to the current royalty framework. 
Since the provincial government of Alberta has not yet released all of the details of the MRF, the Company cannot determine if the 
MRF will have a material impact on Bonterra’s results of operations on a go forward basis.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bonterra will evaluate the impact of the MRF on the Company’s expected results of operations and cash flows as more details  
are released.

PRODUCTION COSTS

($ 000s except $ per BOE)
Production costs(1)

$ per BOE 

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

 13,622 

11.81

 14,570 

12.06

 15,516 

12.50

 55,215 

11.95

 66,878 

13.89

(1)   Transportation costs are included in production costs.

Production costs on a per BOE basis for 2015 decreased 14 percent compared to 2014. Production costs on a BOE basis have 
primarily decreased as a result of field optimizations leading to reduced well maintenance, more efficient produced water handling 
and decreased chemical costs. Also production costs decreased due to a reduction in rates charged by service companies and 
lower  freehold  mineral  taxes  due  to  lower  commodity  prices.  These  savings  were  partially  offset  by  the  production  costs  of  
the  Pembina Assets that currently have higher operating costs due to the  low  production  from  individual vertical  wells  and  a  
waterflood program. The higher costs per BOE in this area are expected to drop further as Bonterra gains efficiencies from reduced 
trucking, waterflood support, lower labour costs and more importantly through horizontal development adding new production in 
the area from its undrilled locations.  

Quarter over quarter, production costs on a per BOE basis decreased primarily due to delaying well maintenance costs on marginal 
wells in the fourth quarter because of reduced commodity prices, compared to facility maintenance and plant turnarounds that 
generally occur in the third quarter. 

OTHER INCOME

($ 000s)

Investment income

Administrative income

Gain on sale of properties

Realized gain on investments

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

 41 

 15 

 - 

 - 

 56 

 45 

 16 

 - 

 - 

 61 

 12 

 22 

 - 

 - 

 34 

 251 

 77 

 - 

 - 

 328 

 56 

 282 

 671 

 1,102 

 2,111 

In January 2014, the Company sold a portion of its undeveloped land in the Willesden Green area for cash proceeds of $1,000,000. 
At the time of disposition, the Company had a carrying value of $419,000 for exploration and evaluation expenditures, resulting in 
a gain on sale of $581,000. 

The market value of the investments held by the Company is $9,538,000 at December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014 – $7,966,000). 
The carrying value increased due to the $12,221,000 of investments purchased by the Company during 2015 which was partially 
offset  by  a  decrease  in  market  value  of  $2,519,000  through  other  comprehensive  loss  and  investments  sold  in  the  year  for 
proceeds  of  $8,130,000.  This  disposition  resulted  in  a  gain  on  sale  of  $1,191,000  which  was  recorded  as  an  equity  transfer 
between accumulated other comprehensive income and retained earnings and not recorded in profit and loss. The accounting 
treatment resulted from early adopting IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” (see Financial Reporting Update). 

The Company receives administrative income by way of management fees from a related party (see related party transactions).

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATION (G&A) EXPENSE

($ 000s except $ per BOE)

Employee compensation expense

Office and administration expense 

Total G&A expense

$ per BOE

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

1,211

666

1,877

 1.63 

912

1,007

1,919

 1.59 

 1,399 

877

2,276

 1.83 

3,905

3,302

7,207

 1.56 

7,111

3,559

10,670

 2.22 

18 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The decrease in employee compensation expense of $3,206,000 for 2015 compared to 2014 is primarily due to a decrease in 
accrued bonuses that resulted from lower net earnings before income taxes. The Company has a bonus plan in which the bonus 
pool consists of a range between 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent of earnings before income taxes. The Company firmly believes that 
tying employee compensation (including the use of stock options) to the performance of the Company clearly aligns the interest 
of the employees with that of the shareholders. 

Office  and  administration  expense  for  2015  decreased  compared  to  2014  due  to  a  decrease  in  office  rent,  professional  fees 
and a decrease in the allowance for doubtful accounts. The decrease quarter over quarter relates primarily to a decrease in the 
allowance for doubtful accounts and continuous disclosure costs. 

FINANCE COSTS 

($ 000s except $ per BOE)

Interest on long-term debt

Other interest

Interest expense

$ per BOE
Unwinding of the discounted value  
of decommissioning liabilities

Total finance costs

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

 3,244 

 252 

 3,496 

 3.03 

 514 

 4,010 

 2,948 

 291 

 3,239 

 2.68 

 504 

 3,743 

 1,220 

 251 

 1,471 

 1.19 

 388 

 1,859 

 10,390 

 1,931 

 12,321 

 2.67 

 1,878 

 14,199 

 4,282 

 1,461 

 5,743 

 1.19 

 1,361 

 7,104 

Interest on long-term debt increased $6,108,000 in 2015 compared to 2014 as the Company increased the outstanding bank debt 
by $170,000,000 to finance the Pembina Asset acquisition in the second quarter. The Company’s bank interest rate increased in 
the second half of 2015 due to a higher net debt to cash flow ratio. Interest rates are determined by net debt to cash flow ratio on 
a trailing quarterly basis.

Other interest relates to amounts paid to a related party (see related party transactions) and a $25,000,000 subordinated promissory 
note from a private investor and a one-time interest charge of $694,000 paid to the vendor for the Pembina Asset acquisition for 
the period January 1, 2015 to April 15, 2015. Subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company repaid $10,000,000 
of the subordinated promissory note. 

A  one  percent  increase  (decrease)  in  the  Canadian  prime  rate  would  decrease  (increase)  both  annual  net  earnings  and 
comprehensive income by approximately $2,515,000.

SHARE-OPTION COMPENSATION

($ 000s)

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

Share-option compensation

 1,550 

 958 

 947 

 4,270 

 2,725 

Share-option  compensation  is  a  statistically  calculated  value  representing  the  estimated  expense  of  issuing  employee  stock 
options. The Company records a compensation expense over the vesting period based on the fair value of options granted to 
employees, directors and consultants. 

Share-option compensation increased by $1,545,000 from the same period a year ago due to less share-option compensation 
being amortized in 2014 as fewer options were outstanding during the year. Also, the fair value of the 1,772,500 options granted 
during the year (2014 – 1,769,000) increased from $2.82 per option to $3.68 per option due to an increase in volatility of the 
Company’s share price used in valuing the options under the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Quarter over quarter share-
option compensation increased due to the Company granting 807,000 stock options in the fourth quarter.

Based on the outstanding options as of December 31, 2015, the Company has an unamortized expense of $4,644,000, of which 
$4,153,000 will be recorded for 2016, $487,000 for 2017 and $4,000 for 2018. For more information about options issued and 
outstanding, refer to Note 17 of the December 31, 2015 audited annual financial statements.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DEPLETION AND DEPRECIATION, EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION AND GOODWILL

($ 000s)

Depletion and depreciation

Exploration and evaluation

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

 25,775 

 183 

 26,586 

 - 

 26,975 

 - 

 101,150 

 183 

 106,697 

 28 

Provision for depletion and depreciation decreased by $5,547,000 for 2015 compared to 2014. The decrease in depletion and 
depreciation is primarily due to a decrease in production volumes and a lower decline rate associated with the acquired Pembina 
Assets. The quarter over quarter decrease in the provision was primarily due to a decrease in production volumes and less capital 
spent in the fourth quarter. 

Exploration and evaluation expense related to expired leases.

There were no impairment provisions recorded for the years ended December 31, 2015 or 2014.

TAXES

Applying the statute income tax rate of 26.01 percent in effect for the 2015 year, the expected income tax provision would have 
been $515,000 on net earnings before income taxes. The higher than expected income tax provision of $11,062,000 for the 2015 
year is primarily due to the Alberta provincial tax rate increasing to 12 percent from 10 percent that came into effect July 1, 2015, 
which increased the Company’s deferred tax liability by approximately $8,490,000, resulting in a net loss. 

On November 14, 2013, the Company received a proposal letter from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) which stated its intention 
to challenge the tax consequences of Bonterra’s reorganization from a trust to a Corporation, which occurred on November 18, 
2008. On November 27, 2014, the Company reached an agreement with CRA (the Agreement) to adjust certain tax pools, resulting 
in a $43,503,000 reduction in the Company’s deferred tax assets and investment tax credit receivable. The reduction was charged 
to deferred tax expense in the statement of comprehensive income (loss). The large tax expense of $70,832,000 for the 2014 
fiscal year is related to a reduction in the Company’s tax assets as a result of an agreement with CRA and an increase in earnings 
before income taxes. The reduction in tax assets was charged to deferred tax expense in the statement of comprehensive income 
(loss). In 2014, the Company utilized $6,645,000 of the federal investment tax credit receivable to reduce current taxes payable to 
$3,860,000. No taxes are owing for the 2015 fiscal year.

For additional information regarding income taxes, see Note 16 of the December 31, 2015 annual audited financial statements.

NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

($ 000s except $ per share)

Net earnings (loss)

$ per share – basic

$ per share – diluted

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

(4,113)

(0.13)

(0.13)

 (321)

 (0.01)

 (0.01)

 (32,877)

 (1.04)

 (1.03)

 (9,080)

 (0.28)

 (0.28)

38,761

1.21

1.21

Net earnings in 2015 decreased by $47,841,000 compared to the same period in 2014. Decreased net earnings resulted primarily 
from lower commodity prices, which was partially offset by a decrease in deferred income tax expense, royalties, production and 
G&A costs. The Company had net earnings before income taxes of $1,982,000 in a low price commodity environment.

The quarter over quarter increase in net loss was mainly due to lower crude oil and natural gas prices. 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Other comprehensive loss for 2015 consists of an unrealized loss before tax on investments (including investment in a related 
party) of $2,519,000 relating to a decrease in the investments’ fair value (December 31, 2014 – unrealized gain of $1,174,000). 
Realized gains decrease accumulated other comprehensive income as these gains are transferred to retained earnings. Other 
comprehensive income varies from net earnings by unrealized changes in the fair value of Bonterra’s holdings of investments 
including the investment in related party, net of tax. 

20 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS

($ 000s except $ per share)

Cash flow from operations

$ per share – basic

$ per share – diluted

  DECEMBER 31, 
2015

Three months ended
  September 30,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

Year ended

27,808

0.84

0.84

36,024

1.09

1.09

50,465

1.57

1.57

107,871

222,353

3.30

3.30

 6.97 

 6.94 

In 2015, cash flow from operations decreased by $114,482,000 compared to the same period a year ago. This was primarily due 
to a decrease in revenue from oil and gas sales, which were partially offset by a decrease in royalties, production and G&A costs. 
The quarter over quarter decrease of $8,216,000 was primarily due to a decrease in oil and gas sales due to lower crude oil and 
natural gas prices. 

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Bonterra holds 1,034,523 (December 31, 2014 – 1,034,523) common shares in Pine Cliff Energy Ltd (Pine Cliff) which represents 
less than one percent ownership in Pine Cliff’s outstanding common shares. Pine Cliff’s common shares had a fair market value 
as of December 31, 2015 of $962,000 (December 31, 2014 of $1,738,000). Pine Cliff paid a management fee to the Company of 
$60,000 (December 31, 2014 – $60,000) plus the reimbursement of certain administrative expenses. Services provided by the 
Company include executive services, oil and gas administration and office administration. All services performed are charged at 
estimated fair value. As at December 31, 2015, the Company had an account receivable from Pine Cliff of $293,000 (December 31,  
2014 – $316,000).

As at December 31, 2015, the Company’s CEO, Chairman of the Board and major shareholder loaned the Company $12,000,000 
(December 31, 2014 – $12,000,000). The loan bears interest at Canadian chartered bank prime less 5/8th of a percent and has 
no  set  repayment  terms  but  is  payable  on  demand.  Security  under  the  debenture  is  over  all  of  the  Company’s  assets  and  is 
subordinated to any and all claims in favour of the syndicate of senior lenders providing credit facilities to the Company. The loan 
can only be repaid should the Company have sufficient available borrowing limits under the Company’s credit facility. Interest paid 
on this loan for 2015 was $261,000 (December 31, 2014 – $285,000). This loan results in a substantial benefit to Bonterra as the 
interest paid to the CEO by Bonterra is lower than bank interest.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
NET DEBT TO CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS

Bonterra  continues  to  focus  on  monitoring  and  managing  its  cash  flow,  capital  expenditures  and  dividend  payments.  The 
Company  did  not  meet  its  annual  guidance  range  of  1  to  1  times  to  1.5  to  1  times  net  debt  to  a  12  month  trailing  cash  flow 
ratio and as of December 31, 2015 had a ratio of 3.4 to 1 times. The increase in net debt to cash flow is primarily due to the 
Pembina Asset acquisition on April 15, 2015 and low commodity prices realized in 2015 compared to 2014. To manage its bank 
debt, Bonterra significantly reduced planned capital expenditures for 2015 compared to 2014 and reduced the monthly dividend 
payments by 50 percent beginning with the February 2015 payment. Beginning in January 2016, the Company further reduced the 
monthly dividend by $0.05 to $0.10 per common share. In addition the Company raised equity by way of a private placement of 
approximately $31 million. With the current oil commodity price environment the Company will be assessing its monthly dividend 
and capital expenditures for 2016 on a month to month basis.

WORKING CAPITAL DEFICIENCY AND NET DEBT

($ 000s)

Working capital deficiency

Long-term bank debt

Net debt

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015 

  December 31,  
2014 

29,807

332,471

362,278

53,642

154,723

208,365

The Company has sufficient availability on its credit facility to repay both the related party loan and the subordinated promissory 
note if required. The Company manages the working capital position during each quarter by monitoring capital spending and 
dividends paid compared to cash flow from operations.

Net debt is a combination of long-term bank debt and working capital. Net debt increased compared to the 2014 year. This was 
primarily attributable to decreased cash flow from lower field netbacks and the acquisition of the Pembina Assets, partially offset 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
by  decreased  capital  spending  and  reducing  the  monthly  dividend  from  $0.30  per  share  to  $0.15  per  share  that  commenced 
with the February 2015 dividend. Beginning with the January 2016 dividend payment the Company further reduced the monthly 
dividend to $0.10 per share due to further declines in commodity prices.

Working  capital  is  calculated  as  current  liabilities  less  current  assets.  The  Company  finances  its  working  capital  deficiency 
using cash flow from operations, its long-term bank facility, share issuances, option exercises and sale of non-core assets and 
investments. Included in the working capital deficiency at December 31, 2015 is $37 million of debt relating to the subordinated 
promissory note and the amount due to related party. The Company has sufficient room on its credit facility to repay these loans 
if required.

The Company has not currently entered into any financial derivative contracts.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2015,  the  Company  incurred  development  capital  costs  of  $58,498,000  (December  31, 
2014 – $155,566,000) net of proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment. The costs relate primarily to the drilling of  
20 gross (16.7 net) Cardium operated horizontal wells, completing and tying-in 10 gross (9.9 net) Cardium operated wells that 
were drilled in 2014, and upgrading facilities and gathering systems. The Company also incurred $170,430,000 in capital costs for 
the Pembina Asset acquisition. 

LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt represents the outstanding draws from the Company’s credit facilities as described in the notes to the Company’s 
audited annual financial statements. As of December 31, 2015, the Company has bank facilities consisting of a $375,000,000 
(December 31, 2014 – $220,000,000) syndicated revolving credit facility and a $50,000,000 (December 31, 2014 – $30,000,000) 
non-syndicated revolving credit facility. Amounts drawn under these credit facilities at December 31, 2015 totaled $332,471,000 
(December 31, 2014 – $154,723,000). The interest rates on the outstanding debt as of December 31, 2015 were 4.95 percent and 
4.38 percent on the Company’s Canadian prime rate loan and Banker’s Acceptances, respectively. The loan is revolving to April 29, 
2016 with a maturity date of April 30, 2017 and is subject to annual review. The credit facilities have no fixed terms of repayment. 

Advances drawn under the credit facilities are secured by a fixed and floating charge debenture over the assets of the Company. 
In the event the credit facilities are not extended or renewed, amounts drawn under the facility would be due and payable on the 
maturity date. The size of the committed credit facilities is based primarily on the value of the Company’s producing petroleum and 
natural gas assets and related tangible assets as determined by the lenders. For more information see Note 14 of the December 31,  
2015 audited annual financial statements.

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares without nominal or par value.

The  Company  is  authorized  to  issue  an  unlimited  number  of  Class  “A”  redeemable  Preferred  Shares  and  an  unlimited 
number  of  Class  “B”  Preferred  Shares.  There  are  currently  no  outstanding  Class  “A”  redeemable  Preferred  Shares  or  Class  “B”  
Preferred Shares. 

DECEMBER 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

Issued and fully paid – common shares

Balance, beginning of year

Share issuance, private placement

Share issue costs, net of tax

Issued pursuant to the Company's share option plan

Transfer from contributed surplus to share capital

Shares issued for oil and gas properties

NUMBER

32,169,623

973,812

 - 

 -  

AMOUNT 
($ 000S)

728,934

 31,162 

 (76)

 - 

 - 

 - 

Number

31,322,171

 - 

829,452

 18,000 

Balance, end of year

33,143,435

760,020

32,169,623

Amount  
($ 000s)

685,898

 - 

 - 

37,911

4,021

 1,104 

728,934

The Company provides a stock option plan for its directors, officers, employees and consultants. Under the plan, the Company 
may  grant  options  for  up  to  3,314,344  (December  31,  2014  –  3,216,962)  common  shares.  The  exercise  price  of  each  option 
granted  will  not  be  lower  than  the  market  price  of  the  common  shares  on  the  date  of  grant  and  the  option’s  maximum  term 
is five years. For additional information regarding options outstanding, see Note 17 of the December 31, 2015 audited annual  
financial statements.

22 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On  July  8,  2015,  the  Company  closed  a  private  placement  of  973,812  common  shares  to  existing  shareholders  at  a  price  of  
$32.00  per  share,  for  aggregate  proceeds  of  approximately  $31,162,000.  The  Company  incurred  share  issue  costs  of  
approximately $105,000 in respect of the offering.

COMMITMENTS

The Company has entered into firm service gas transportation agreements in which the Company guarantees certain minimum 
volumes of natural gas will be shipped on various gas transportation systems. The terms of the various agreements expire in one 
to nine years. The Company has office lease commitments for building and office equipment. The building and office equipment 
leases have an average remaining life of 2.3 years. There are no restrictions placed upon the lessee by entering into these leases. 
Future minimum payments for the firm service gas transportation agreements using current tariff rates and the non-cancellable 
building and office equipment leases as at December 31, 2015 are as follows:

($ 000s)

Firm service commitments

Office lease commitments

Total

DIVIDEND POLICY

2016

1,165

941

2,106

2017

1,061

922

1,983

2018

910

308

1,218

2019

875

-

875

2020

Thereafter

791

-

791

2,793

-

2,793

Total

7,595

2,171

9,766

For the year ended December 31, 2015, Bonterra paid dividends of $63,607,000 ($1.95 per share) compared to $113,007,000 
($3.54 per share) in 2014. Bonterra’s dividend policy is regularly monitored and is dependent upon production, commodity prices, 
funds from operations, debt levels and capital expenditures. With its large inventory of undrilled locations, Bonterra continues to 
be well positioned to provide its shareholders a combination of sustainable growth and meaningful dividend income.

Bonterra’s dividends to its shareholders are funded by cash flow from operating activities with the remaining cash flow directed 
towards capital spending and, where applicable, the repayment of debt. To the extent that the excess cash flow from operations 
after dividends is not sufficient to cover capital spending, the shortfall is funded by funds from the exercising of employee stock 
options,  the  sale  of  investments  and  by  drawdowns  from  Bonterra’s  credit  facilities.  Bonterra  intends  to  provide  dividends  to 
shareholders that are sustainable to the Company considering its liquidity and its long-term operational strategy. In addition, since 
the level of dividends is highly dependent upon cash flow generated from operations, which fluctuates significantly in relation to 
changes in financial and operational performance, commodity prices, interest and exchange rates and many other factors, future 
dividends cannot be assured. Bonterra’s payout ratio based on cash flow from operations was 59 percent for the year ended 
December 31, 2015 (51 percent for the year ended December 31, 2014).

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

For the periods ended ($ 000s except $ per share)

Revenue – oil and gas sales

Cash flow from operations

Net earnings (loss)

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

For the periods ended ($ 000s except $ per share)

Revenue – oil and gas sales

Cash flow from operations

Net earnings

Per share – basic

Per share – diluted

Q4

44,678

27,808

(4,113)

(0.13)

(0.13)

Q4

68,940

50,465

(32,877)

(1.04)

(1.03)

2015

Q3

52,160

36,024

(321)

(0.01)

(0.01)

2014

Q3

88,959

65,705

20,983

0.65

0.65

Q2

57,921

17,960

(2,711)

(0.08)

(0.08)

Q2

99,274

57,089

27,614

0.87

0.86

Q1

42,480

26,079

(1,935)

(0.06)

(0.06)

Q1

82,521

49,094

23,041

0.73

0.73

The fluctuations in the Company’s revenue and net earnings from quarter to quarter are primarily caused by variations in production 
volumes, realized commodity pricing and the related impact on royalties and production costs. In 2015, net earnings and cash flow 
are lower than prior periods due to a significant decrease in commodity prices, other than Q4 2014 net earnings which was lower 
due to the Company’s tax agreement with the CRA.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

23

 
 
 
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

There  have  been  no  changes  to  the  Company’s  critical  accounting  policies  and  estimates  as  of  the  period  ended  in  the  
financial statements.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain  statements  contained  in  this  MD&A  include  statements  which  contain  words  such  as  “anticipate”,  “could”,  “should”, 
“expect”, “seek”, “may”, “intend”, “likely”, “will”, “believe” and similar expressions, relating to matters that are not historical facts, and 
such statements of our beliefs, intentions and expectations about development, results and events which will or may occur in the 
future, constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and are based on 
certain assumptions and analysis made by us derived from our experience and perceptions. Forward-looking information in this 
MD&A includes, but is not limited to: expected cash provided by continuing operations; cash dividends; future capital expenditures, 
including the amount and nature thereof; oil and natural gas prices and demand; expansion and other development trends of the 
oil and gas industry; business strategy and outlook; expansion and growth of our business and operations; and maintenance of 
existing customer, supplier and partner relationships; supply channels; accounting policies; credit risks; and other such matters.

All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and 
perception  of  historical  trends,  current  conditions  and  expected  future  developments,  as  well  as  other  factors  we  believe  are 
appropriate in the circumstances. The risks, uncertainties, and assumptions are difficult to predict and may affect operations,  
and  may  include,  without  limitation:  foreign  exchange  fluctuations;  equipment  and  labour  shortages  and  inflationary  costs;  
general economic conditions; industry conditions; changes in applicable environmental, taxation and other laws and regulations  
as  well  as  how  such  laws  and  regulations  are  interpreted  and  enforced;  the  ability  of  oil  and  natural  gas  companies  to  raise 
capital; the effect of weather conditions on operations and facilities; the existence of operating risks; volatility of oil and natural 
gas prices; oil and gas product supply and demand; risks inherent in the ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations 
to meet current and future obligations; increased competition; stock market volatility; opportunities available to or pursued by us; 
and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. The foregoing factors are not exhaustive. 

Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, this forward-looking 
information and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking information will 
transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits will be derived therefrom. Except as required by law, Bonterra disclaims any 
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events 
or otherwise. 

The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure controls and procedures (DC&P), as defined in National Instrument 52-109 Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual 
and Interim Filings, are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s 
annual filings, interim filings or other reports filed, or submitted by the Company under securities legislation is recorded, processed, 
summarized  and  reported  within  the  time  periods  specified  under  securities  legislation  and  include  controls  and  procedures 
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to management, including the 
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The 
Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  of  Bonterra  evaluated  the  effectiveness  of  the  design  and  operation  of  the 
Company’s DC&P. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that Bonterra’s 
DC&P were effective at December 31, 2015.

INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Internal  control  over  financial  reporting  (ICFR),  as  defined  in  National  Instrument  52-109,  includes  those  policies  and  
procedures that:

1.  Pertain  to  the  maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  transactions  and  dispositions  

of Bonterra;

2.  Are designed to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial 
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures of Bonterra are 
being made in accordance with authorizations of management and Directors of Bonterra; and

3.  Are  designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  prevention  or  timely  detection  of  authorized  acquisition,  use,  or 

disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

24 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

The CEO and CFO have designed, or caused to be designed under their supervision, ICFR as defined in National Instrument 52-109 
of the Canadian Securities Administrators, in order to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and 
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. The control framework the Company used 
to design its ICFR was in accordance with the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO 2013).

The Company’s CEO and CFO have evaluated, or caused to be evaluated under their supervision, the effectiveness of the Company’s 
internal controls over financial reporting at the financial period end of the Company and concluded that such internal controls over 
financial reporting are effective. 

In May 2013, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) published an updated Internal 
Control – Integrated Framework and related illustrative documents which supersedes the 1992 COSO Framework as of December 14,  
2014. During the year, Bonterra has converted to the 2013 COSO framework.

It  should  be  noted  that  while  Bonterra’s  CEO  and  CFO  believe  that  the  Company’s  internal  controls  and  procedures  provide  a 
reasonable level of assurance and are effective; they do not expect that these controls will prevent all errors and fraud. A control 
system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives are met.

FINANCIAL REPORTING UPDATE

As of January 1, 2015, the Company early adopted IFRS 9 in accordance with the transitional provisions of that standard. A brief 
description of the new accounting policy and its impact on the Company’s financial statements are as follows:

IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”

Effective January 1, 2015 the Company adopted IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”. IFRS 9 replaces the sections of IAS 39 “Financial 
Instruments: Recognition and Measurements” that relates to the classification and measurement of financial instruments and 
hedge accounting. 

IFRS 9 replaces the multiple classification and measurement models for financial assets with a new model that only has two 
measurement categories; amortized cost and fair value through profit or loss or other comprehensive income. This determination 
is made at initial recognition. As a result of adopting IFRS 9, the Company’s accounts receivables were reclassified from loans 
and receivables at amortized cost to financial assets at amortized cost. For financial liabilities, the new standard retains most of 
the IAS 39 requirements. The main change arises in cases where the Company chooses to designate a financial liability as fair 
value through net earnings. In these situations, the portion of the fair value change related to the Company’s own credit risk is 
recognized in other comprehensive income rather than net earnings. The Company has no financial liabilities that are measured 
at fair value through net earnings.

The classification of the Company’s investments changed from available-for-sale to financial assets measured at fair value. On the 
day an investment is acquired the Company can make an irrevocable election (on an instrument by instrument basis) to designate 
investments in equity instruments as at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVTOCI), provided those investments 
are  not  classified  as  held  for  trading.  The  Company’s  investments  will  be  measured  at  fair  value,  with  gains  or  losses  arising 
from changes in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and accumulated in the fair value instrument. The 
cumulative gain or loss will not be reclassified to profit or loss on disposal of the investments. The Company has designated all of 
its investments and its investment in a related party as FVTOCI on its initial adoption of IFRS 9.

FUTURE ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2014, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” 
which replaces IAS 18 “Revenue,” IAS 11 “Construction Contracts,” and related interpretations. This standard is required to be 
adopted either retrospectively or using a modified transition approach for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, with 
earlier adoption permitted. The Company has not yet assessed the impact, if any, that the new standard will have on its financial 
statements or whether to early adopt this new standard.

Additional information relating to the Company may be found on www.sedar.com or visit our website at www.bonterraenergy.com.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

25

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The  information  provided  in  this  report,  including  the  financial  statements,  is  the  responsibility  of  management.  The  timely 
preparation  of  the  financial  statements  requires  that  management  make  estimates  and  use  judgment  regarding  the  reported 
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as at the date of the financial statements 
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Such estimates primarily relate to unsettled transactions 
and events as at the date of the financial statements. Accordingly, actual results may differ from estimated amounts as future 
confirming events occur. Management believes such estimates have been based on careful judgments and have been properly 
reflected in the accompanying financial statements.

Management  maintains  a  system  of  internal  controls  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  the  Company’s  assets  are  
safeguarded and to facilitate the preparation of relevant and timely information.

Deloitte  LLP  has  been  appointed  by  the  Shareholders  to  serve  as  the  Company’s  external  auditors.  They  have  examined  the 
financial  statements  and  provided  their  auditor’s  report.  The  audit  committee  has  reviewed  these  financial  statements  with 
management and the auditors, and has reported to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has approved the financial 
statements as presented in this annual report.

GEORGE F. FINK 
Chief Executive Officer and 
Chairman of the Board

March 17, 2016

ROBB D. THOMPSON 
Chief Financial Officer

March 17, 2016

26 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF BONTERRA ENERGY CORP.

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Bonterra Energy Corp. (the “Company”), which comprise the statement 
of financial position as at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the statement of comprehensive income (loss), statement of cash 
flow and statement of changes in equity for the years then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other 
explanatory information.

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation 
of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY

Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  these  financial  statements  based  on  our  audits.  We  conducted  our  audits  in 
accordance  with  Canadian  generally  accepted  auditing  standards.  Those  standards  require  that  we  comply  with  ethical 
requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free 
from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  
The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of 
the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control 
relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are 
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal 
control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting 
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We  believe  that  the  audit  evidence  we  have  obtained  in  our  audits  is  sufficient  and  appropriate  to  provide  a  basis  for  our  
audit opinion. 

OPINION

In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Bonterra Energy Corp. as 
at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and its financial performance and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards.

Chartered Professional Accountants, Chartered Accountants

March 17, 2016

Calgary, Canada

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

27

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

As at 
($ 000s)

ASSETS

CURRENT

Accounts receivable 

Crude oil inventory

Prepaid expenses

Investments

Investment in related party 

Exploration and evaluation assets

Property, plant and equipment

Investment tax credit receivable

Goodwill

LIABILITIES

CURRENT

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  Due to related party

Subordinated promissory note

Bank debt

Decommissioning liabilities

Deferred tax liability

COMMITMENTS AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

Share capital

Contributed surplus

Accumulated other comprehensive income

  Retained earnings (deficit)

See accompanying notes to these financial statements.

On behalf of the board:

Note

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015 

  December 31,  
2014 

7

8

5, 9

16

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

21, 22

17

 15,433 

 868 

 2,798 

 8,576 

 27,675 

 962 

 7,925 

 1,045,387 

 8,834 

 92,810 

 20,314 

 1,227 

 2,428 

 6,228 

 30,197 

 1,738 

 7,629 

 901,991 

 8,573 

 92,810 

 1,183,593 

 1,042,938 

 20,479 

 12,000 

 25,000 

 57,479 

 332,471 

 71,523 

 126,315 

 587,788 

 760,020 

 15,765 

 571 

 (180,551)

 595,805 

 31,839 

 12,000 

 40,000 

 83,839 

 154,723 

 53,792 

 115,386 

 407,740 

 728,934 

 11,495 

 3,824 

 (109,055)

 635,198 

 1,183,593 

 1,042,938 

GEORGE F. FINK 
Director

28 

RODGER A. TOURIGNY 
Director

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 
($ 000s, except $ per share)

REVENUE

  Oil and gas sales, net of royalties

  Other income

EXPENSES

Production

  Office and administration 

Employee compensation

Finance costs

Share-option compensation

  Depletion and depreciation

Exploration and evaluation

EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

TAXES (RECOVERY)

Current income tax (recovery)

  Deferred income tax

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

  Unrealized gain (loss) on investments

  Deferred taxes on unrealized (gain) loss on investments

  Realized gain on investments transferred to net earnings

  Deferred taxes on realized gain on investments transferred to net earnings

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE – BASIC 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE – DILUTED

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE – BASIC 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE – DILUTED

See accompanying notes to these financial statements.

Note

2015 

2014 

18

19

6

17

9

8

16

16

17

17

17

17

 183,878 

 328 

 184,206 

 55,215 

 3,302 

 3,905 

 14,199 

 4,270 

 101,150 

 183 

 182,224 

 1,982 

 (355)

 11,417 

 11,062 

 (9,080)

 (2,519)

 296 

 - 

 - 

 (2,223)

 (11,303)

 (0.28)

 (0.28)

 (0.35)

 (0.35)

 301,584 

 2,111 

 303,695 

 66,878 

 3,559 

 7,111 

 7,104 

 2,725 

 106,697 

 28 

 194,102 

 109,593 

 10,505 

 60,327 

 70,832 

 38,761 

 1,174 

 (147)

 (1,102)

 138 

 63 

 38,824 

 1.21 

 1.21 

 1.22 

 1.21 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 
($ 000s)

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net earnings (loss)

Items not affecting cash

  Deferred income taxes

Share-option compensation

  Depletion and depreciation 

Exploration and evaluation

  Unwinding of the discount on decommissioning liabilities

15

  Gain on sale of properties

  Gain on sale of investments

Investment income

Interest expense

Change in non-cash working capital accounts:

Accounts receivable

Crude oil inventory

Prepaid expenses

Investment tax credit receivable

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Decommissioning expenditures

Interest paid

CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Increase (decrease) in bank debt

Subordinated promissory note

Issuance of common shares by private placement

Share issue costs

Stock option proceeds

  Dividends

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Investment income received

Exploration and evaluation expenditures

Property, plant and equipment expenditures 

Proceeds on sale of properties

Purchase of investments

Proceeds on sale of investments

Acquisition

Change in non-cash working capital accounts:

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Accounts receivable

CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

NET CHANGE IN CASH IN THE YEAR

Cash, beginning of year

CASH, END OF YEAR

See accompanying notes to these financial statements.

15

8

9

5

Note

2015 

2014 

 (9,080)

 38,761 

 11,417 

 4,270 

 101,150 

 183 

 1,878 

 - 

 - 

 (251)

 12,321 

 4,419 

 300 

 (370)

 (261)

 (5,597)

 (187)

 (12,321)

 107,871 

 177,748 

 (15,000)

 31,162 

 (105)

 - 

 (63,607)

 130,198 

 251 

 (479)

 60,327 

 2,725 

 106,697 

 28 

 1,361 

 (671)

 (1,102)

 (56)

 5,743 

 8,411 

 (258)

 (786)

 6,646 

 1,922 

 (1,652)

 (5,743)

 222,353 

 (2,041)

 15,000 

 - 

 - 

 37,911 

 (113,007)

 (62,137)

 56 

 (402)

 (58,019)

 (155,262)

 - 

 (12,221)

 8,130 

 (170,430)

 (5,763)

 462 

 1,152 

 (1,527)

 1,539 

 - 

 (4,344)

 (1,428)

 (238,069)

 (160,216)

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

30 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED 
($ 000s, except number of shares outstanding)

Number  
of shares  
  outstanding  
(Note 17)

Share  
capital 
(Note 17)

JANUARY 1, 2014

31,322,171 

 685,898 

Share-option compensation

Share issuance

Exercise of options
Transfer to share capital on 
exercise of options

Comprehensive income

Dividends

 18,000 

 1,104 

 829,452 

 37,911 

 4,021 

 (4,021)

DECEMBER 31, 2014

32,169,623

 728,934 

Share-option compensation

 11,495 

 4,270 

Share issuance, private placement

 973,812 

 31,162 

Share issue costs, net of tax

Comprehensive loss
Transfer of realized gain on  

investments

Deferred taxes on realized gain on  

investments

Dividends

 (76)

  Accumulated  
other  
 comprehensive 
income(2)

 3,761 

Retained  
earnings 
(deficit)

 (34,809)

  Contributed

surplus(1)

 12,791 

 2,725 

Total 
 shareholders’  

equity

 667,641 

 2,725 

 1,104 

 37,911 

 - 

 38,824 

 (113,007)

 635,198 

 4,270 

 31,162 

 (76)

 63 

 3,824 

 38,761 

 (113,007)

 (109,055)

 (2,223)

 (9,080)

 (11,303)

 (1,191)

 1,191 

 - 

 161 

 (63,607)

 161 

 (63,607)

 595,805 

DECEMBER 31, 2015

33,143,435

 760,020 

 15,765 

 571 

 (180,551)

(1)  Contributed surplus includes all amounts related to share-based payments.
(2)  Accumulated other comprehensive income comprises of unrealized gains and losses on investments measured at fair value.

See accompanying notes to these financial statements.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As at and for the years ended December 31, 2015, and 2014.

1. NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SEGMENT INFORMATION

Bonterra  Energy  Corp.  (Bonterra  or  the  Company)  is  a  public  company  listed  on  the  Toronto  Stock  Exchange  (the  TSX)  
and incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta). The address of the Company’s registered office is Suite 901, 
1015-4th Street SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2R 1J4.

Bonterra operates in one industry and has only one reportable segment being the development and production of oil and natural 
gas in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.

2. BASIS OF PREPARATION
A) STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE

These  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  by  management  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  
Standards (IFRS).

The financial statements were authorized for issue by the Company’s Board of Directors on March 17, 2016.

B) BASIS OF MEASUREMENT

These financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for certain financial instruments and share-
based payment transactions which are measured at fair value.

C) FUNCTIONAL AND PRESENTATION CURRENCY

The Company’s functional and presentation currency is the Canadian dollar.

Foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities are translated into Canadian dollars at the rates prevailing on the 
reporting date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated into Canadian dollars at the rates prevailing on the transaction 
dates. Exchange gains and losses are recorded as income or expense in the period in which they occur.

D) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

The timely preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported 
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as at the date of the statement of financial 
position as well as the reported amounts of revenues, expenses and cash flows during the periods presented. Such estimates 
relate primarily to unsettled transactions and events as of the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ materially 
from estimated amounts. See Note 4 for more information.

E) ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

As of January 1, 2015, the Company adopted the following new accounting pronouncement, in accordance with the transitional 
provision of the standard. A brief description of the new accounting policy and its impact on the Company’s financial statements 
is as follows:

IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”

Effective January 1, 2015 the Company adopted IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”. IFRS 9 replaces the sections of IAS 39 “Financial 
Instruments: Recognition and Measurements” that relates to the classification and measurement of financial instruments and 
hedge accounting. 

IFRS 9 replaces the multiple classification and measurement models for financial assets with a new model that only has two 
measurement  categories;  amortized  cost  and  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  or  other  comprehensive  income  (loss).  This 
determination is made at initial recognition. As a result of adopting IFRS 9, the Company’s accounts receivables were reclassified 
from  loans  and  receivables  at  amortized  cost  to  financial  assets  at  amortized  cost.  For  financial  liabilities,  the  new  standard 

32 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

retains most of the IAS 39 requirements. The main change arises in cases where the Company chooses to designate a financial 
liability as fair value through net earnings. In these situations, the portion of the fair value change related to the Company’s own 
credit risk is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) rather than net earnings. The Company has no financial liabilities 
that are measured at fair value through net earnings.

The classification of the Company’s investments changed from available-for-sale to financial assets measured at fair value. On 
the  day  an  investment  is  acquired  the  Company  can  make  an  irrevocable  election  (on  an  instrument  by  instrument  basis)  to 
designate  investments  in  equity  instruments  as  at  fair  value  through  other  comprehensive  income  (FVTOCI),  provided  those 
investments are not classified as held for trading. The Company’s investments will be measured at FVTOCI, with gains or losses 
arising from changes in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the fair value instrument. The 
cumulative gain or loss will not be reclassified to profit or loss on disposal of the investments. The Company has designated all of 
its investments and its investment in a related party as FVTOCI on its initial adoption of IFRS 9.

F) FUTURE ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In  May  2014,  the  IASB  issued  IFRS  15  “Revenue  from  Contracts  with  Customers,”  which  replaces  IAS  18  “Revenue,”  IAS  11 
“Construction Contracts,” and related interpretations. This standard is required to be adopted either retrospectively or using a 
modified transition approach for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, with earlier adoption permitted. The Company 
has not yet assessed the impact, if any, that the new amended standard will have on its financial statements or whether to early 
adopt this new requirement.

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
A) REVENUE RECOGNITION

Revenues from the sale of petroleum and natural gas are recorded when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have 
been transferred to the customer. This generally occurs when the product is physically transferred into a third-party pipeline or 
when the delivery truck arrives at a customer’s receiving location. Items such as royalties for crown, freehold, gross overriding 
(GORR) and Saskatchewan surcharge are netted against revenue. These items are netted to reflect the deduction for other parties’ 
proportionate share of the revenue.

Administration  fee  income  is  recorded  when  management  services  and  office  administration  are  provided  (see  related  party 
disclosure Notes 7 and 12). 

B) JOINT ARRANGEMENTS

Certain exploration, development and production activities are conducted jointly with others. These financial statements reflect 
only the Company’s interests in such activities. A jointly controlled operation involves the use of assets and other resources of the 
Company and those of other venturers through contractual arrangements rather than through the establishment of a corporation, 
partnership or other entity. The Company has no interests in jointly controlled entities. The Company recognizes in its financial 
statements its interest in assets that it owns, the liabilities and expenses that it incurs and its share of income earned by the  
joint arrangement. 

C) INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of crude oil. Crude oil stored in the Company’s tanks is valued on a first in first out basis at the lower of cost 
or net realizable value. Inventory cost for crude oil is determined based on combined average per barrel operating costs, depletion 
and depreciation for the period and net realizable value is determined based on estimated sales price less transportation costs.

D) INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENT IN RELATED PARTY

Investments  and  investment  in  related  party  consist  of  equity  securities.  The  Company’s  investments  are  measured  as  fair 
value through other comprehensive income (FVTOCI), with gains or losses arising from changes in fair value recognized in other 
comprehensive income and accumulated in the fair value instrument. The cumulative gain or loss will not be reclassified to profit 
or loss on disposal of the investments. Fair value is determined by multiplying the period end trading price of the investments by 
the number of common shares held as at period end. 

E) EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS

General exploration and evaluation (E&E) expenditures incurred prior to acquiring the legal right to explore are charged to expense 
as incurred.

E&E expenditures represent undeveloped land costs, licenses and exploration well costs.

Undeveloped land costs, licenses and exploration well costs are initially capitalized and, if subsequently determined to have not 
found sufficient reserves to justify commercial production, are charged to expense. E&E assets continue to be capitalized as long 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

33

as sufficient progress is being made to assess the reserves and economic viability of the asset. Once technical feasibility and 
commercial viability has been established, E&E assets are transferred to property, plant and equipment (PP&E). E&E assets are 
assessed for impairment annually, upon transfer to PP&E assets or whenever indications of impairment exist to ensure they are 
not at amounts above their recoverable amounts. 

F) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

PP&E assets include transferred-in E&E costs, development drilling and other subsurface expenditures. PP&E assets are carried 
at  cost  less  depletion  and  depreciation  of  all  development  expenditures  and  include  all  other  expenditures  associated  with 
PP&E assets.

When  commercial  production  in  an  area  has  commenced,  PP&E  properties,  excluding  surface  costs  are  depleted  using  the 
unit-of-production method over their proved plus probable developed reserve life. Proved plus probable developed reserves are 
determined annually by qualified independent reserve engineers. Changes in factors such as estimates of proved plus probable 
developed reserves that affect unit-of-production calculations are accounted for on a prospective basis. Surface costs such as 
production facilities and furniture, fixtures and other equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives.

Oil and Gas Properties

The initial cost of an asset is comprised of its purchase price or construction cost, including expenditures such as drilling costs, 
the present value of the initial and changes in the estimate of any decommissioning obligation associated with the asset and 
finance charges on qualifying assets, that are directly attributable to bringing the asset into operation and in present location. 

Production Facilities

Production facilities are comprised of costs related to petroleum and natural gas plant and production equipment.

Depletion and Depreciation

Depletion and depreciation is recognized in the statement of comprehensive income (loss). Production facilities, furniture, fixtures 
and other equipment are depreciated over the individual assets’ estimated economic lives, less estimated salvage value of the 
assets at the end of their useful lives. 

These assets are depreciated on a declining balance method as follows:

Production facilities 

10 percent per year

Furniture, fixtures and other equipment 

10 percent to 20 percent per year

G) BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND GOODWILL

The purchase price used in a business combination is based on the fair value at the date of acquisition. The business combination 
is accounted for based on the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. All acquisition costs are expensed as 
incurred. Contingent liabilities are recognized at fair value at the date of the acquisition, and subsequently re‐measured at each 
reporting period until settled. The excess of cost over fair value of the net assets and liabilities acquired is recorded as goodwill. 

H) IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS

Impairment of Financial Assets 

A financial asset is considered to be impaired if objective evidence indicates that one or more events have had a negative effect 
on the estimated future cash flow of that asset. An impairment loss in respect of a financial asset measured at amortized cost 
is calculated as the difference between its carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flow discounted 
at the original effective interest rate. Significant financial assets are tested for impairment on an individual basis. The remaining 
financial assets are assessed collectively in groups that share similar credit risk characteristics.

All impairment losses are recognized in net earnings. An impairment loss is reversed if there is an indicator that the impairment 
reversal can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognized. Any subsequent recovery of an 
impairment loss in respect of an investment in an equity instrument classified as fair value through other comprehensive income 
(FVTOCI) is reversed through other comprehensive income instead of net earnings. For financial assets measured at amortized 
cost, the reversal is recognized in net earnings.

Impairment of Non-Financial Assets

The carrying amounts of the Company’s non-financial assets are reviewed at the end of each reporting period to determine whether 
there is any indication of impairment. If such indication exists, then the assets’ carrying amounts are assessed for impairment. 

For the purpose of impairment testing, assets (which include E&E, PP&E and Goodwill) are grouped together into the smallest 
group of assets that generates cash flows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash flow of other assets or 

34 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
  
 
 
groups of assets (the cash-generating unit or CGU). Goodwill is allocated to the CGU expected to benefit from the synergies of the 
combination. The recoverable amount of an asset or a CGU is the greater of its value-in-use (VIU) and its fair value less costs to 
sell (FVLCS). The Company has a core CGU composed of its Alberta properties and secondary CGUs for its British Columbia (BC) 
and Saskatchewan properties.

An  impairment  loss  is  recognized  if  the  carrying  amount  of  an  asset  or  its  CGU  exceeds  its  recoverable  amount.  Impairment 
losses are recognized in the statement of comprehensive income (loss). Impairment losses recognized in respect of a CGU are 
allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the CGU and then to reduce the carrying amount of the 
other assets of the CGU on a pro-rata basis.

In respect of assets other than goodwill, impairment losses recognized in prior periods are assessed at each reporting date for 
any indications that the impairment loss has reversed. If the amount of the impairment loss reverses in a subsequent period and 
the reversal can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment was recognized, the impairment loss is reversed 
only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of 
depletion and depreciation, if no impairment loss had been recognized and recorded in the statement of comprehensive income 
(loss). An impairment loss in respect of goodwill cannot be reversed. 

I) DECOMMISSIONING LIABILITIES

The fair value of the statutory, contractual, constructive or legal liabilities associated with the retirement and reclamation of oil and 
gas properties is recorded when incurred, with a corresponding increase to the carrying amount of the related PP&E. The amount 
recognized is the estimated cost of decommissioning, discounted to its present value using the Company’s risk free rate. Changes 
in the estimated timing of decommissioning or decommissioning cost estimates and changes to the risk free rates are dealt with 
prospectively by recording an adjustment to the decommissioning liabilities, and a corresponding adjustment to property, plant 
and equipment. The unwinding of the discount on the decommissioning provision is charged to net earnings as a finance cost.

The  Company  recognizes  a  decommissioning  liability  in  the  period  in  which  it  is  incurred  when  a  reasonable  estimate  of  the 
liability can be made. On a periodic basis, management will review these estimates and changes and if there are any, they will be 
applied prospectively. The fair value of the estimated provision is recorded as a long-term liability, with a corresponding increase 
in the carrying amount of the related asset. The capitalized amount is depleted on a unit-of-production basis over the life of the 
proved plus probable developed reserves. The liability amount is increased each reporting period due to the passage of time and 
this amount is charged to earnings in the period. Actual costs incurred upon settlement of the obligations are charged against 
the provision to the extent of the liability recorded and any remaining balance of actual costs is recorded in the statement of 
comprehensive income (loss).

J) INCOME TAXES

Tax expense comprises current and deferred taxes. Tax is recognized in the statement of comprehensive income (loss) or directly 
in equity.

Current tax expense is based on the results for the period as adjusted for items that are not taxable or not deductible. Current tax 
is calculated using tax rates and laws that are substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period. Management periodically 
evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation. 
Provisions are established where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities. 

Deferred tax is recognized using the liability method, providing for unused tax losses, unused tax credits and temporary differences 
between  the  carrying  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  for  financial  reporting  purposes  and  the  amounts  used  for  taxation 
purposes. Deferred tax is not recognized for the following temporary differences: the initial recognition of assets and liabilities in 
a transaction that is not a business combination and that affects neither accounting nor taxable profit, and differences relating to 
investments in subsidiaries to the extent that they are unlikely to be reversed in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax is measured 
at the tax rates that are expected to be applied to the temporary differences when they reverse, based on the laws that have been 
enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

A deferred tax asset is recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which unused 
tax losses, unused tax credits and temporary differences can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each period end and 
are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized.

The amount and timing of reversals of temporary differences will also depend on the Company’s future operating results, and 
acquisitions and dispositions of assets and liabilities. A significant change in any of the preceding assumptions could materially 
affect the Company’s estimate of the deferred income tax asset or liability.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

35

K) SHARE-OPTION COMPENSATION

The  Company  accounts  for  share-option  compensation  using  the  fair-value  method  of  accounting  for  stock  options  granted 
to  directors,  officers,  employees  and  other  service  providers  using  the  Black-Scholes  option  pricing  model.  Share-option 
compensation is recognized through the statement of comprehensive income (loss) over the vesting period with a corresponding 
amount reflected in contributed surplus in equity. For awards issued in tranches that vest at different times, the fair value of each 
tranche is recognized over its respective vesting period.

At the grant date and at the end of each reporting period, the Company assesses and re-assesses for subsequent periods its 
estimates  of  the  number  of  awards  that  are  expected  to  vest  and  recognizes  the  impact  of  the  revisions  in  the  statement  of 
comprehensive income (loss). Upon exercise of share-based options, the proceeds received net of any transaction costs and the 
fair value of the exercised share-based options is credited to share capital.

Employees may elect to have the Company settle any or all options vested and exercisable using a cashless equity settlement. 
In connection with any such exercise, an employee shall be entitled to receive, without any cash payment (other than the taxes 
required to be paid in connection with the exercise), whole shares of the Company. The number of shares under option multiplied 
by the difference of the fair value at the time of exercise less the option exercise price, divided by the fair value at the time of 
exercise, determines the number of whole shares issued.

L) FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company classifies its financial instruments into one of the following categories: financial assets at amortized cost, financial 
liabilities at amortized costs; and fair value through profit or loss. All financial instruments are measured at fair value on initial 
recognition. Measurement in subsequent periods is dependent on the classification of the respective financial instrument.

Fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  financial  instrument  are  subsequently  measured  at  fair  value  with  changes  in  fair  value 
recognized in net earnings. All other categories of financial instrument are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest  
rate method.

Cash, account receivables and certain other long-term assets are classified as financial assets at amortized cost since it is the 
Company’s intention to hold these assets to maturity and the related cash flows are mainly payments of principle and interest. 
The  Company’s  investments  are  measured  at  fair  value  through  other  comprehensive  income  (FVTOCI),  with  gains  or  losses 
arising  from  changes  in  fair  value  recognized  in  other  comprehensive  income  and  accumulated  in  the  fair  value  instrument. 
The cumulative gain or loss will not be reclassified to profit or loss on disposal of the investments. Accounts payable, accrued 
liabilities, and certain other long-term liabilities and long-term debt are classified as financial liabilities at amortized cost. Risk 
management assets and liabilities are classified as fair value through profit or loss.

M) FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

Financial instruments consisting of accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, due to related party, subordinated 
promissory note and bank debt on the statement of financial position are carried at amortized cost. Investments and investments 
in related party are carried at fair value. All of the investments are transacted in active markets. Bonterra determines the fair value 
of these transactions according to the following hierarchy based on the amount of observable inputs used to value the instrument.

Level 1 – Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are 
those in which transactions occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Level 2 – Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1. Prices in Level 2 are either directly 
or  indirectly  observable  as  of  the  reporting  date.  Level  2  valuations  are  based  on  inputs,  including  quoted  forward  prices  for 
commodities, time value and volatility factors, which can be substantially observed or corroborated in the marketplace.

Level 3 – Valuations in this level are those with inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data.

Bonterra’s investments and investments in related party have been assessed on the fair value hierarchy described above and are 
all considered Level 1. 

N) RISK MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS

The Company is exposed to market risks resulting from fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and 
interest rates in the normal course of its business. The Company may use a variety of instruments to manage these exposures. 
For transactions where hedge accounting is not applied, the Company accounts for such instruments using the fair value method 
by initially recording an asset or liability, and recognizing changes in the fair value of the instruments in earnings as unrealized 
gains or losses on risk management contracts. Fair values of financial instruments are based on third party quotes or valuations 
provided by independent third parties. Any realized gains or losses on risk management contracts are recognized in net earnings 
in the period they occur.

36 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

O) NET EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME PER SHARE

Per share amounts are calculated by dividing the net earnings or comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common shareholders 
of the Company by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. 

Diluted per share amounts are calculated similar to basic per share amounts except that the weighted average common shares 
outstanding are increased to include additional common shares from the assumed exercise of dilutive share options. The number 
of  additional  outstanding  common  shares  is  calculated  by  assuming  that  the  outstanding  in-the-money  share  options  were 
exercised and that the proceeds from such exercises were used to acquire common shares at the average market price during 
the reporting period.

4. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS 

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the 
year in which the estimates are revised and in any future years affected. The following are the estimates and judgments applied 
by management that most significantly affect the Company’s financial statements.

EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION EXPENDITURES

Exploration and evaluation costs are initially capitalized with the intent to establish commercially viable reserves. Exploration and 
evaluation assets include undeveloped land and costs related to exploratory wells. The Company is required to make estimates 
and  judgments  about  future  events  and  circumstances  regarding  the  future  economic  viability  of  extracting  the  underlying 
resources.  Changes  to  project  economics,  resource  quantities,  expected  production  techniques,  unsuccessful  drilling,  expired 
mineral leases, production costs and required capital expenditures are important factors when making this determination. To the 
extent a judgment is made, that the underlying reserves are not viable, the exploration and evaluation costs will be impaired and 
charged to net earnings. 

IMPAIRMENT OF NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS

Property,  plant  and  equipment  (PP&E)  and  goodwill  are  aggregated  into  cash  generating  units  (CGUs)  based  on  their  ability 
to  generate  largely  independent  cash  flows  and  are  assessed  for  impairment.  CGUs  have  been  determined  based  on  similar 
geological  structure,  shared  infrastructure,  geographical  proximity,  commodity  type,  and  similar  market  risks.  Oil  and  gas 
prices  and  other  assumptions  will  change  in  the  future,  which  may  impact  the  Company’s  recoverable  amounts  and  may 
therefore require a material adjustment to the carrying value of PP&E. The determination of the Company’s CGUs is subject to 
management’s judgment. The Company has a core CGU composed of its Alberta properties and secondary CGUs for its BC and  
Saskatchewan properties.

The recoverable amount of E&E, PP&E, and goodwill is determined based on the fair value less costs of disposal using a discounted 
cash flow model and is assessed at the CGU level. The period the Company used to project cash flows is approximately 50 years 
or  the  CGU’s  reserve  life.  Growth  in  cash  flow  from  a  single  well  would  be  determined  based  on  the  extent  of  total  reserves 
assigned, which is produced at declining rates over the estimated reserve life. The fair value measurement of the Company’s E&E, 
PP&E, and goodwill is designated Level 3 on the fair value hierarchy. 

For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company performed an impairment test on all of its CGUs for any potential impairment 
or related recovery. In making these evaluations, the Company uses the following information:

1)  The net present value of the pre-tax cash flows from oil and gas reserves of each CGU based on reserves estimated by the 

Company’s independent reserve evaluator; and

2) Key input estimates used in the determination of cash flows from oil and gas reserves include the following:

a)  Reserves – Assumptions that are valid at the time of reserve estimation may change significantly when new information 
becomes available. Changes in forward price estimates, production costs or recovery rates may change the economic status 
of reserves and may ultimately result in reserves being restated.

b)  Crude oil and natural gas prices – Forward price estimates of the crude oil and natural gas prices are used in the cash flow 
model. Commodity prices used tend to be stable because short-term increases or decreases in prices are not considered 
indicative of long-term price levels, but nonetheless subject to change and the change could be material.

c)  Discount rate – The Company uses a pre-tax discount rate of 10 percent that reflects risks specific to the assets for which  
the  future  cash  flow  estimates  have  not  been  adjusted.  The  discount  rate  was  determined  based  on  the  Company’s 
assessment of risk based on past experience. Changes in the general economic environment could result in material changes 
to this estimate.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

37

The following table from external sources outlines the forecast benchmark commodity prices used in the impairment calculation 
as at December 31, 2015:

WTI Crude oil $US per Bbl(1)
AECO C-Spot $ per Mmbtu(1)

Exchange rate $US per $Cdn

2016

45.00

2.25

0.75

2017

2018

2019

60.00

70.00

80.00

2.95

0.80

3.42

0.83

3.91

0.85

2020

81.20

4.20

0.85

2021

82.42

4.28

0.85

2022

83.65

4.35

0.85

2023

84.91

4.43

0.85

2024

86.18

4.51

0.85

2025

87.48

4.59

0.85

2026(2)

88.79

4.67

0.85

(1)  The forecast benchmark commodity prices listed above are adjusted for quality differentials, heat content, transportation and marketing costs and other factors 

specific to the Company’s operations in performing the Company’s impairment tests.

(2)  Forecast benchmark commodity prices are assumed to increase by 1.5% in each year after 2026 to the end of the reserve life.

With the current key assumptions listed above, the Company performed impairment tests for each CGU and concluded that no 
reasonable change in the key assumptions, such as a five percent change in commodity prices or a one percent change in the 
discount rate, would result in an impairment being recorded. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 no impairment 
losses were recorded in the statement of comprehensive income (loss).

RESERVES ESTIMATION

The capitalized costs of oil and gas properties are depleted on a unit-of-production basis at a rate calculated by reference to 
proved plus probable developed reserves determined in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 and the Canadian Oil and 
Gas Evaluation handbook. Commercial reserves are determined using best estimates of oil and gas in place, recovery factors and 
future oil and gas prices. Amounts used for impairment calculations are also based on estimates of crude oil and natural gas 
reserves and future costs required to develop those reserves. 

RISK MANAGEMENT CONTRACT

The Company accounts for such instruments using the fair value method by initially recording an asset or liability, and recognizing 
changes in the fair value of the instruments in net earnings as unrealized gains or losses on risk management contracts. Fair 
values  of  financial  instruments  are  based  on  third  party  futures  quotes  for  commodities.  Any  realized  gains  or  losses  on  risk 
management contracts are recognized in net earnings in the period they occur.

SHARE-OPTION COMPENSATION

The  Company  measures  the  cost  of  equity-settled  transactions  with  employees  by  reference  to  the  fair  value  of  the  equity 
instruments at the date they are granted. Estimating the fair value requires the determination of the most appropriate valuation 
model  for  a  grant,  which  is  dependent  on  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  grant.  This  also  requires  the  determination  of  the 
most  appropriate  inputs  to  the  valuation  model  including  the  expected  life  of  the  option,  risk  free  interest  rates,  volatility  and  
dividend yield. 

DECOMMISSIONING AND RESTORATION COSTS 

Decommissioning and restoration costs will be incurred by the Company at the end of the operating lives of the Company’s oil 
and gas properties. Provisions for decommissioning liabilities are based on cost estimates which can vary in response to many 
factors including timing of abandonment, inflation, changes in legal requirements, new restoration techniques and interest rates. 

INCOME TAXES

The Company recognizes the net deferred tax benefit or expense related to deferred income tax assets or liabilities to the extent 
that it is probable that the deductible temporary differences will reverse in the foreseeable future. Assessing the recoverability 
of investment tax credit receivable requires the Company to make significant estimates related to expectations of future taxable 
income. The provision for income taxes is based on judgments in applying income tax law and estimates of the timing, likelihood 
and reversal of temporary differences between the accounting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. The ability to realize on the 
deferred tax assets and investment tax credit receivable recorded on the balance sheet may be compromised to the extent that 
any interpretation of tax law is challenged or taxable income differs significantly from estimates. 

Further details regarding accounting estimates and judgments are disclosed in Note 3.

5. ACQUISITION

On April 15, 2015, the Company acquired Cardium focused oil and gas assets in the Pembina area of Alberta, including upper 
zones (the Pembina Assets) that are complimentary to its existing Cardium oil and gas asset base. Cash consideration for these 
assets was $170,430,000. The results of the Pembina Assets have been included in these financial statements since that date. 
The Pembina Assets contributed oil and gas sales, net of royalties, of $20,667,000 and operating expenses of $10,448,000 for the 
period from April 15, 2015 to December 31, 2015. If the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2015, total oil and gas sales, net of 

38 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

royalties, would have been approximately $28,127,000 and the total production costs would have been approximately $14,761,000 
for the year ended December 31, 2015. 

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method, and the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired 
and the liabilities assumed as follows:

Net assets acquired:

Property, plant and equipment

Decommissioning liabilities

Total

Consideration:

Cash

Total purchase price

6. FINANCE COSTS

($ 000s)

173,111 

(2,681)

170,430 

170,430 

170,430 

A breakdown of finance costs for the years ended:

($ 000s)

Interest expense on bank debt

Interest expense on amounts owing to related party

Interest expense on subordinated promissory note and other

Unwinding of the fair value of decommissioning liabilities

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

10,390

261

1,670

1,878

14,199

4,283

285

1,175

1,361

7,104

7. INVESTMENT IN RELATED PARTY

The investment consists of 1,034,523 (December 31, 2014 – 1,034,523) common shares in Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. (Pine Cliff), a 
company with some common directors and some common management with Bonterra. The investment in Pine Cliff represents 
less  than  one  percent  ownership  in  the  outstanding  common  shares  of  Pine  Cliff  and  is  recorded  at  fair  value  through  other 
comprehensive income. The common shares of Pine Cliff trade on the TSX under the symbol PNE. 

In addition, Pine Cliff owns 204,633 (December 31, 2014 – 204,633) common shares in Bonterra. 

8. EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS

($ 000s)

COST AND CARRYING AMOUNT

Balance at January 1, 2014

Additions

Dispositions

Expiry of exploration and evaluation assets

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2014

Additions

Expiry of exploration and evaluation assets

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2015

 7,674 

 402 

 (419)

 (28)

 7,629 

 479 

 (183)

 7,925 

In January 2014, the Company sold a portion of its undeveloped land in the Willesden Green area for cash proceeds of $1,000,000. 
At  the  time  of  disposition,  the  Company  had  a  carrying  value  of  $419,000  for  these  exploration  and  evaluation  expenditures, 
resulting in a gain on sale of $581,000.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

39

 
 
9. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

COST 
($ 000s)

Balance at January 1, 2014

Additions
Adjustment to decommissioning liabilities(1)

Disposals

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2014

Additions

Acquisition
Adjustment to decommissioning liabilities(1)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2015

  OIL AND GAS 
  PROPERTIES

  PRODUCTION 
FACILITIES

 FURNITURE, 
  FIXTURES  
& OTHER  
 EQUIPMENT

TOTAL 
  PROPERTY, 
PLANT & 
 EQUIPMENT

892,166

 119,635 

 16,721 

 (2)

1,028,520

 42,093 

 138,711 

 13,359 

215,950

 36,633 

 - 

 (62)

252,521

15,860

34,400

 - 

1,940

 47 

 - 

-

1,987

 66 

 - 

 - 

1,110,056

 156,315 

 16,721 

 (64)

1,283,028

 58,019 

 173,111 

 13,359 

1,222,683

302,781

2,053

1,527,517

ACCUMULATED DEPLETION AND DEPRECIATION 
($ 000s)

  OIL AND GAS 
  PROPERTIES

  PRODUCTION 
FACILITIES

Balance at January 1, 2014

Depletion and depreciation

Disposal and other

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2014

Depletion and depreciation

Disposal and other

 (217,522)

 (88,001)

 (219)

 (305,742)

 (84,800)

 57 

 (55,278)

 (18,588)

 - 

 (73,866)

 (16,250)

 - 

 FURNITURE, 
  FIXTURES  
& OTHER  
 EQUIPMENT

TOTAL 
  PROPERTY, 
PLANT & 
 EQUIPMENT

 (1,321)

 (108)

 - 

 (1,429)

 (100)

 - 

 (274,121)

 (106,697)

 (219)

 (381,037)

 (101,150)

 57 

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2015

 (390,485)

 (90,116)

 (1,529)

 (482,130)

CARRYING AMOUNTS AS AT: 
($ 000s)

December 31, 2014

DECEMBER 31, 2015

 722,778 

 832,198 

 178,655 

 212,665 

 558 

 524 

 901,991 

 1,045,387 

(1)  Adjustment to decommissioning liabilities is due to a decrease in the risk free rate and changes in estimated decommissioning costs (see Note 15).

10. GOODWILL

The amount recorded as goodwill has all been allocated to the primary CGU, Alberta, Canada. There was no impairment loss 
recorded in the statement of comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

11. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES

($ 000s)

Accounts payable

Accrued liabilities

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

15,130

5,349

20,479

15,170

16,669

31,839

12. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

As at December 31, 2015, the Company’s CEO, Chairman of the Board and major shareholder has a loan with the Company of 
$12,000,000 (December 31, 2014 – $12,000,000). The loan bears interest at Canadian chartered bank prime less 5/8th of a percent 
and has no set repayment terms but is payable on demand. Security under the debenture is over all of the Company’s assets and 
is subordinated to any and all claims in favour of the syndicate of senior lenders providing credit facilities to the Company. The 
loan can only be repaid should the Company have sufficient available borrowing limits under the Company’s credit facility. Interest 
paid on this loan during 2015 was $261,000 (December 31, 2014 – $285,000).

40 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company received a management fee of $60,000 plus the reimbursement of certain administrative expenses for the year 
ended December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014 – $60,000) for management services and office administration from Pine Cliff. 
This fee has been included in other income. As at December 31, 2015, the Company had an account receivable from Pine Cliff for 
these management fees and the reimbursement of certain administration expense of $293,000 (December 31, 2014 – $316,000).

COMPENSATION FOR KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

($ 000s)

Compensation

Share-based payments

Total compensation

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

1,407

1,595

3,002

2,272

1,120

3,392

Key management personnel are those persons, including all directors, having authority and responsibility for planning, directing 
and controlling the activities of the Company.

13. SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE

As at December 31, 2015, Bonterra had $25,000,000 (December 31, 2014 – $40,000,000) owed on a subordinated note to a private 
investor. The terms of the subordinated promissory note are that it bears interest at three percent and is repayable after thirty 
days’ written notice by either party. Security consists of a floating demand debenture of $25,000,000 over all of the Company’s 
assets  and  is  subordinated  to  any  and  all  claims  in  favor  of  the  syndicate  of  senior  lenders  providing  credit  facilities  to  the 
Company. Interest paid on the subordinated promissory note during the year was $974,000 (December 31, 2014 – $1,175,000). 
On January 22, 2016, the Company repaid $10,000,000.

The Company’s bank agreement requires that the above loan can only be repaid should the Company have sufficient available 
borrowing limits under the Company’s credit facility. 

14. BANK DEBT

As at December 31, 2015, the Company has bank facilities consisting of a $375,000,000 (December 31, 2014 – $220,000,000) 
syndicated revolving credit facility and a $50,000,000 (December 31, 2014 – $30,000,000) non-syndicated revolving credit facility, 
for total credit facilities of $425,000,000. Amounts drawn under the credit facilities at December 31, 2015 were $332,471,000 
(December 31, 2014 – $154,723,000). Amounts borrowed under the credit facilities bear interest at a floating rate based on the 
applicable Canadian prime rate or Banker’s Acceptance rate, plus between 0.75 percent and 3.50 percent, depending on the type 
of borrowing and the Company’s consolidated total funded debt to consolidated cash flow provided by operating activities. The 
terms of the revolving credit facilities provided that the loan is revolving to April 29, 2016, with a maturity date of April 30, 2017 
and is subject to annual review. The credit facilities have no fixed terms of repayment. 

The available lending limits of the credit facilities are reviewed semi-annually on or before April 30 and October 31 each year based 
on the lender’s interpretation of the Company’s reserves, future commodity prices and costs. 

The amount available for borrowing under the credit facilities is reduced by outstanding letters of credit. Letters of credit totaling 
$1,950,000 were issued as at December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014 – $700,000). Security for credit facilities consists of various 
and floating demand debentures totaling $750,000,000 (December 31, 2014 – $400,000,000) over all of the Company’s assets and 
a general security agreement with first ranking over all personal and real property. 

The following is a list of the covenants on the credit facilities:

•   The Company cannot exceed $425,000,000 in consolidated debt (includes working capital but excludes amounts due to related 

parties and the subordinated promissory note).

•  Dividends paid in the current quarter shall not exceed 80 percent of the available cash flow for the preceding four fiscal quarters 

divided by four, which is calculated as 51 percent for the current quarter ended December 31, 2015.

Available cash flow is defined to be cash provided by operating activities excluding the change in non-cash working capital and 
decommissioning liabilities settled and including investment income received and all net proceeds of dispositions included in 
cash used in investing activities. At December 31, 2015, the Company is in compliance with all covenants.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

41

 
 
15. DECOMMISSIONING LIABILITIES

At  December  31,  2015,  the  estimated  total  undiscounted  amount  required  to  settle  the  decommissioning  liabilities  was 
$232,413,000  (December  31,  2014  –  $177,441,000).  The  provision  has  been  calculated  assuming  a  1.5  percent  inflation  rate 
(December 31, 2014 – 1.5 percent inflation rate). These obligations will be settled at the end of the useful lives of the underlying 
assets, which extend up to 50 years into the future. This amount has been discounted using a risk-free interest rate of 2.9 percent 
(December 31, 2014 – 2.9 percent).

Changes to decommissioning liabilities were as follows:

($ 000s)

Decommissioning liabilities, January 1

Acquisition (Note 5)
Adjustment to decommissioning liabilities(1)

Liabilities settled during the year

Unwinding of the discount on decommissioning liabilities

Decommissioning liabilities, end of year

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

53,792

 2,681 

 13,359 

 (187)

 1,878 

 71,523 

37,362

 - 

 16,721 

 (1,652)

 1,361 

 53,792 

(1)   Adjustment to decommissioning liabilities is due to a change in the risk free rate and estimated decommissioning costs.

16. INCOME TAXES

($ 000s)

Deferred tax asset (liability) related to:

Investments

Exploration and evaluation assets and property, plant and equipment

Investment tax credits

  Decommissioning liabilities

Corporate tax losses carried forward

Share issue costs

Corporate capital tax losses carried forward

  Unrecorded benefit of capital tax losses carried forward

Deferred tax asset (liability)

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

 (110)

 (566)

 (148,961)

 (126,199)

 (2,385)

 19,311 

 4,983 

 737 

 9,138 

 (9,028)

 (3,808)

 13,459 

 - 

 1,162 

 8,617 

 (8,051)

 (126,315)

 (115,386)

Income tax expense varies from the amounts that would be computed by applying Canadian federal and provincial income tax 
rates as follows:

($ 000s)

Earnings before taxes

Combined federal and provincial income tax rates

Income tax provision calculated using statutory tax rates 

Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:

Change in statutory tax rates(1)

Stock-option compensation

  Realized gain on sale of investments

Effect of Agreement

Change in estimates and other

Income tax expense

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

1,982

26.01%

515

 8,490 

 1,110 

 161 

 - 

 786 

11,062

109,593

25.02%

27,420

 - 

 682 

 - 

 43,503 

 (773)

70,832

(1)  Effective July 1, 2015 the combined federal and provincial income tax rate for Bonterra is approximately 27.00% due to the provincial tax rate for Alberta, Canada 

increasing from 10% to 12%.

42 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company has the following tax pools, which may be used to reduce taxable income in future years, limited to the applicable 
rates of utilization:

($ 000s)

Undepreciated capital costs

Eligible capital expenditures

Share issue costs

Canadian oil and gas property expenditures

Canadian development expenditures

Canadian exploration expenditures
Income tax losses carried forward(1)

(1)  Income tax losses carried forward expire in 2035. 

Rate of  
  Utilization (%)

20-100

7

20

10

30

100

100

Amount

112,723

2,414

2,729

179,037

197,794

8,063

18,439

521,199

The Company has $8,834,000 (December 31, 2014 – $8,573,000) of investment tax credits that expire in the following years; 
2021 – $1,824,000; 2022 – $1,735,000; 2023 – $1,097,000; 2024 – $1,241,000; 2025 – $1,323,000; 2026 – $1,105,000; 2027 – 
$410,000; and 2035 – $99,000. 

The Company has $67,691,000 (December 31, 2014 - $68,881,000) of capital losses carried forward which can only be claimed 
against taxable capital gains.

On November 14, 2013, the Company received a proposal letter from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) which stated its intention 
to challenge the tax consequences of Bonterra’s reorganization from a trust to a Corporation, which occurred on November 18, 
2008. On November 27, 2014, the Company reached an agreement with CRA (the Agreement) to adjust certain tax pools, resulting 
in a $43,503,000 reduction in the Company’s deferred tax assets and investment tax credit receivable. The reduction was charged 
to  deferred  tax  expense  in  the  statement  of  comprehensive  income  (loss).  Of  the  $10,505,000  current  tax  provision  for  2014 
fiscal year, $6,645,000 of the federal investment tax credit receivable was used to reduce current taxes payable to $3,860,000. No 
current taxes are owing for the 2015 fiscal year. 

17. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
AUTHORIZED

The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares without nominal or par value.

DECEMBER 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

Issued and fully paid – common shares

Balance, beginning of year

Share issuance, private placement

Share issue costs, net of tax

Issued pursuant to the Company's share option plan

Transfer from contributed surplus to share capital

Shares issued for oil and gas properties

NUMBER

32,169,623

973,812

 - 

 -  

AMOUNT 
($ 000s)

728,934

 31,162 

 (76)

 - 

 - 

 - 

Number

31,322,171

 - 

829,452

 18,000 

Balance, end of year

33,143,435

760,020

32,169,623

Amount  
($ 000s)

685,898

 - 

 - 

37,911

4,021

 1,104 

728,934

The  Company  is  authorized  to  issue  an  unlimited  number  of  Class  “A”  redeemable  Preferred  Shares  and  an  unlimited 
number  of  Class  “B”  Preferred  Shares.  There  are  currently  no  outstanding  Class  “A”  redeemable  Preferred  Shares  or  Class  “B”  
Preferred Shares. 

On July 8, 2015, the Company closed a private placement of 973,812 common shares to existing shareholders at a price of $32.00 
per share, for aggregate proceeds of approximately $31,162,000. The Company incurred issue costs of approximately $105,000 
in respect of the offering. 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

43

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The weighted average common shares used to calculate basic and diluted net earnings per share for the year ended December 31  
is as follows:

Basic shares outstanding 
Dilutive effect of share options(1)

Diluted shares outstanding

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

32,641,855

31,921,623

 - 

114,022

32,641,855

32,035,645

(1)  The Company did not include 2,955,500 share options (December 31, 2014 – 1,100,000) in the dilutive effect of share options calculation as these share options 

were anti-dilutive.

For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company declared and paid dividends of $63,607,000 ($1.95 per share) (December 31, 
2014 – $113,007,000 ($3.54 per share)). 

The Company provides an equity settled option plan for its directors, officers, employees and consultants. Under the plan, the 
Company may grant options for up to 3,314,344 (December 31, 2014 – 3,216,962) common shares. The exercise price of each 
option granted cannot be lower than the market price of the common shares on the date of grant and the option’s maximum term 
is five years. 

A summary of the status of the Company’s stock option plan as of December 31, 2015, and changes during the period ended on 
those dates is presented below:

At January 1, 2014

Options granted

Options exercised

Options cancelled

Options forfeited

At December 31, 2014

Options granted

Options expired

AT DECEMBER 31, 2015

NUMBER  
  OF OPTIONS

  WEIGHTED  
AVERAGE  
EXERCISE  
PRICE

 1,650,500 

$ 

 1,769,000 
 (904,000)(1) 

 (194,000) 

 (210,000) 

 2,111,500 

$ 

 1,772,500 

 (928,500) 

 2,955,500 

$ 

48.31 

56.48

47.09

49.09

55.01

54.94 

28.15

50.46

40.28 

(1)  93,000 options were exercised under the cashless option method, which resulted in 18,452 shares being issued in which the Company received no proceeds.

The following table summarizes information about options outstanding at December 31, 2015:

Options Outstanding

Options Exercisable

Number  
outstanding at 
 December 31, 
2015

807,000

965,500

1,183,000

2,955,500

 Weighted-average 
remaining  
contractual life

 Weighted-average  

exercise price

1.7 years

$ 

1.8 years

0.8 years

1.4 years

$ 

20.46 

34.57

58.46

40.28 

Number  
exercisable at 
December 31,  
2015

 Weighted-average  

exercise price

$ 

 - 

 - 

 164,000 

164,000

$ 

 -  

 - 

 51.52 

51.52 

Range of exercise prices

$  20.00 – $ 30.00

30.01 – 40.00

40.01 – 65.00

$   20.00 – $ 65.00

44 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company records compensation expense over the vesting period, which ranges between one to three years, based on the 
fair value of options granted to employees, directors and consultants. In 2015, the Company granted 1,772,500 stock options 
with an estimated fair value of $6,523,000 or $3.68 per option using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following  
key assumptions:

Weighted-average risk free interest rate (%)(1)

Expected life (years)
Weighted-average volatility (%)(2)

Forfeiture rate (%)

Weighted average dividend yield (%)

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

 0.48 

 1.5 

 39.93 

 9.24 

 6.84 

 1.04 

 1.5 

 17.63 

 5.00 

 5.66 

(1)  Risk-free interest rate is based on the weighted average Government of Canada benchmark bond yields for one, two, and three year terms to match corresponding 

vesting periods.

(2)  The expected volatility is measured as the standard deviation of expected share price returns based on statistical analysis of historical weekly share prices for a 

representative period.

18. OIL AND GAS SALES, NET OF ROYALTIES

($ 000s)

Oil and gas sales

Less:

Crown royalties

Freehold, gross overriding royalties and other

Oil and gas sales, net of royalties

19. OTHER INCOME

($ 000s)

Investment income

Administrative income

Gain on sale of properties

Realized gain on investments

Other income

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

 197,239 

 339,694 

 (8,007)

 (5,354)

 183,878 

 (23,779)

 (14,331)

 301,584 

  DECEMBER 31,  
2015

  December 31,  
2014

251

77

 - 

 -  

328

56

282

671

 1,102 

2,111

20. FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL RISK FACTORS

The Company undertakes transactions in a range of financial instruments including:

•  Accounts receivable

•  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

•  Common share investments

•  Due to related party

•  Bank debt

•  Subordinated promissory note

The Company’s activities result in exposure to a number of financial risks including market risk (commodity price risk, interest rate 
risk, and foreign exchange risk), credit risk, liquidity risk and equity price risk.

The Company’s overall risk management program seeks to mitigate these risks and reduce the volatility on the Company’s financial 
performance. Financial risk is managed by senior management under the direction of the Board of Directors.

The  Company  may  enter  into  various  risk  management  contracts  to  manage  the  Company’s  exposure  to  commodity  price 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
fluctuations. Currently no risk management agreements are in place. The Company does not speculatively trade in risk management 
contracts. The Company’s risk management contracts are entered into to manage the risks relating to commodity prices from its 
business activities.

CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The Company’s objectives when managing capital, which the Company defines to include shareholders’ equity, debt and working 
capital balances, are to safeguard the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can continue to provide returns 
to its shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain a capital structure that provides a low cost of capital. 
In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may adjust the amount of dividends, debt facilities or issue  
new shares.

The Company monitors capital on the basis of the ratio of net debt (total debt adjusted for working capital) to cash flow from 
operating activities. This ratio is calculated using each quarter end net debt and divided by the preceding twelve months cash 
flow. Management believes that a net debt level as high as one and a half year’s cash flow is still an appropriate level to allow it 
to take advantage in the future of either acquisition opportunities or to provide flexibility to develop its undeveloped resources 
by horizontal or vertical drill programs. During the current year the Company did not meet its annual guidance with a net debt 
to cash flow level of 3.4:1. The increase in net debt to cash flow ratio is primarily due to the acquisition of the Pembina Assets 
(see acquisition Note 5) and low commodity prices realized in 2015. To manage its bank debt during a period of low commodity 
prices the Company significantly reduced planned capital expenditures for the 2015 fiscal year and in February 2015 reduced the 
monthly dividend by $0.15 per common share. In January of 2016 the Company reduced the monthly dividend by a further $0.05 
to $0.10 per common share. In addition the Company raised approximately $31 million in equity by way of a private placement 
(see shareholders’ equity Note 17).

Section (a) of this note provides the Company’s debt to cash flow from operations.

Section (b) addresses in more detail the key financial risk factors that arise from the Company’s activities including its policies for 
managing these risks.

a) Net Debt Ratio

The net debt and cash flow amounts as of December 31, 2015 are as follows:

($ 000s)

Bank debt

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Due to related party

Subordinated promissory note

Current assets 

Net debt

Cash flow from operations 

Net debt to annual cash flow from operations

b) Risks and Mitigation

 332,471 

 20,479 

 12,000 

 25,000 

 (27,675)

 362,275 

 107,871 

3.4

Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flow of the Company’s financial instruments will fluctuate because of 
changes in market prices. Components of market risk to which the Company is exposed are discussed below.

COMMODITY PRICE RISK

The Company’s principal operation is the production and sale of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Fluctuations in 
prices of these commodities directly impact the Company’s performance and ability to continue with its dividends. 

The Company has used various risk management contracts to set price parameters for a portion of its production. Management, 
in agreement with the Board of Directors, decided that at least in the near term, it will discontinue the use of commodity price 
agreements. The Company will assume full risk in respect of commodity prices.

INTEREST RATE RISK

Interest  rate  risk  refers  to  the  risk  that  the  value  of  a  financial  instrument  or  cash  flows  associated  with  the  instrument  will 
fluctuate due to changes in market interest rates. Interest rate risk arises from interest bearing financial assets and liabilities that 
the Company uses. The principal exposure of the Company is on its borrowings which have a variable interest rate which gives 
rise to a cash flow interest rate risk.

46 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

The  Company’s  debt  facilities  consist  of  a  $375,000,000  syndicated  revolving  operating  line,  $50,000,000  non-syndicated 
operating line, $12,000,000 due to a related party and a $25,000,000 subordinated promissory note. The borrowings under these 
facilities, except for the subordinated promissory note, are at bank prime plus or minus various percentages as well as by means 
of banker’s acceptances (BAs) within the Company’s credit facility. The subordinated promissory note is at a fixed interest rate of  
three percent. The Company manages its exposure to interest rate risk on its floating interest rate debt through entering into 
various term lengths on its BAs but in no circumstances do the terms exceed six months. 

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

Based on historic movements and volatilities in the interest rate markets and management’s current assessment of the financial 
markets, the Company believes that a one percent variation in the Canadian prime interest rate is reasonably possible over a 
12-month period. 

A  one  percent  increase  (decrease)  in  the  Canadian  prime  rate  would  decrease  (increase)  both  annual  net  earnings  and 
comprehensive income by $2,515,000.

EQUITY PRICE RISK

Equity  price  risk  refers  to  the  risk  that  the  fair  value  of  the  investments  and  investment  in  related  party  will  fluctuate  due  to 
changes in equity markets. Equity price risk arises from the realizable value of the investments that the Company holds which are 
subject to variable equity market prices which on disposition gives rise to a cash flow equity price risk. The Company will assume 
full risk in respect of equity price fluctuations.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK

The Company has no foreign operations and currently sells all of its product sales in Canadian currency. The Company however 
is  exposed  to  currency  risk  in  that  crude  oil  is  priced  in  US  currency,  then  converted  to  Canadian  currency.  The  Company 
currently  has  no  outstanding  risk  management  agreements.  Management,  in  agreement  with  the  Board  of  Directors,  decided 
that at least in the near term, it will not use commodity price agreements. The Company will assume full risk in respect of foreign  
exchange fluctuations.

CREDIT RISK

Credit risk is the risk that a contracting party will not complete its obligations under a financial instrument and cause the Company 
to  incur  a  financial  loss.  The  Company  is  exposed  to  credit  risk  on  all  financial  assets  included  on  the  statement  of  financial 
position. To help mitigate this risk:

•  The Company only enters into material agreements with credit worthy counterparties. These include major oil and gas 

companies or major Canadian chartered banks; and

•  Agreements for product sales are primarily on 30 day renewal terms.

Of  the  $15,433,000  accounts  receivable  balance  at  December  31,  2015  (December  31,  2014  –  $20,314,000)  over  83  percent  
(2014 – 80 percent) relates to product sales with national and international oil and gas companies.

The Company assesses quarterly if there has been any impairment of the financial assets of the Company. During the year ended 
December 31, 2015, there was no material impairment provision required on any of the financial assets of the Company. The 
Company does have a credit risk exposure as the majority of the Company’s accounts receivable are with counterparties having 
similar characteristics. However, payments from the Company’s largest accounts receivable counterparties have consistently 
been received within 30 days and the sales agreements with these parties are cancellable with 30 days’ notice if payments are 
not received. 

At December 31, 2015, approximately $1,077,000 or seven percent of the Company’s total accounts receivable are aged over  
90 days and considered past due (December 31, 2014 – $2,948,000 or 14.5 percent). The majority of these accounts are due from 
various joint venture partners. The Company actively monitors past due accounts and takes the necessary actions to expedite 
collection,  which  can  include  withholding  production  or  netting  payables  when  the  accounts  are  with  joint  venture  partners. 
Should the Company determine that the ultimate collection of a receivable is in doubt, it will provide the necessary provision in its 
allowance for doubtful accounts with a corresponding charge to earnings. If the Company subsequently determines an account 
is uncollectable, the account is written off with a corresponding charge to the allowance account. The Company’s allowance for 
doubtful accounts balance at December 31, 2015 is $365,000 (December 31, 2014 – $308,000) with the expense being included 
in general and administrative expenses. There were no material accounts written off during the period. 

The  maximum  exposure  to  credit  risk  is  represented  by  the  carrying  amounts  of  accounts  receivable.  There  are  no  material 
financial assets that the Company considers past due.

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

47

LIQUIDITY RISK

Liquidity risk includes the risk that, as a result of the Company’s operational liquidity requirements:

•  The Company will not have sufficient funds to settle a transaction on the due date;

•  The Company will not have sufficient funds to continue with its dividends;

•  The Company will be forced to sell assets at a value which is less than what they are worth; or

•  The Company may be unable to settle or recover a financial asset at all.

To help reduce these risks the Company maintains bank facilities determined by a portfolio of high-quality, long reserve life oil and 
gas assets.

The Company has the following maturity schedule for its financial liabilities and commitments:

($ 000s)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Due to related party

Subordinated promissory note

Bank debt

Firm service commitments

Office lease commitments

Total

21. COMMITMENTS

Recognized  
on Financial  
Statements

Yes – Liability

Yes – Liability

Yes – Liability

Yes – Liability

No

No

Less than  
1 year

Over 1 year  
to 9 years

 20,479 

 12,000 

 25,000 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 332,471 

 1,165 

 941 

 59,585 

 6,430 

 1,230 

 340,131 

The Company has entered into firm service gas transportation agreements in which the Company guarantees certain minimum 
volumes of natural gas will be shipped on various gas transportation systems. The terms of the various agreements expire in one 
to nine years. The Company has office lease commitments for building and office equipment. The building and office equipment 
leases have an average remaining life of 2.3 years. There are no restrictions placed upon the lessee by entering into these leases. 
Future minimum payments for the firm service gas transportation agreements using current tariff rates and the non-cancellable 
building and office equipment leases as at December 31, 2015 are as follows:

($ 000s)

 Firm service commitments 

 Office lease commitments 

 Total 

2016

 1,165 

 941 

 2,106 

2017

 1,061 

 922 

 1,983 

2018

 910 

 308 

 1,218 

2019

 875 

 -  

 875 

2020

Thereafter

 791 

 2,793 

 -  

 -  

 791 

 2,793 

Total

 7,595 

 2,171 

 9,766 

22. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
i) DIVIDENDS

Subsequent to December 31, 2015, the Company declared the following dividends:

Date declared

January 4, 2016

February 1, 2016

March 1, 2016

Record date

$ per share

Date payable

January 15, 2016

February 16, 2016

March 15, 2016

 0.10 

 0.10 

0.10

January 29, 2016

February 29, 2016

March 31, 2016

48 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CORPORATE INFORMATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

G. F. Fink – Chairman 
G. J. Drummond 
R. M. Jarock 
C. R. Jonsson 
R. A. Tourigny

OFFICERS 

G. F. Fink, CEO and Chairman of the Board 
R. D. Thompson, CFO and Corporate Secretary 
A. Neumann, Chief Operating Officer 
B. A. Curtis, Vice President, Business Development 

REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT

Computershare Trust Company of Canada, Calgary, Alberta

AUDITORS

Deloitte LLP, Calgary, Alberta

SOLICITORS

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Calgary, Alberta

BANKERS 

CIBC, Calgary, Alberta 
National Bank of Canada, Calgary, Alberta
TD Securities, Calgary, Alberta 
J.P. Morgan, Calgary, Alberta 
Alberta Treasury Branch, Calgary, Alberta

HEAD OFFICE

901, 1015 – 4th Street SW 
Calgary, Alberta  T2R 1J4 
Telephone: 403.262.5307 
Fax: 403.265.7488 
Email: info@bonterraenergy.com

WEBSITE

www.bonterraenergy.com

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015  

49

BONTERRA ENERGY CORP. 

901, 1015 - 4th Street SW  
Calgary, Alberta,  T2R 1J4

TELEPHONE 
FAX 

403.262.5307 
403.265.7488

info@bonterraenergy.com 
www.bonterraenergy.com

50 

BONTERRA ANNUAL REPORT 2015