SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Filed
by
the Registrant
x
Filed
by
a party other than the Registrant
¨
Check
the
appropriate box:
Preliminary
Proxy Statement
¨
|
Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
|
x
|
Definitive
Proxy Statement
|
¨
|
Definitive
Additional Materials
|
¨
|
Soliciting
Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-11(c) or
ss.240.14a-12
|
AURORA
OIL & GAS CORPORATION
(Name
of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name
of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
¨
|
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11
|
|
1)
|
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
_________________________________
|
2)
|
Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
_________________________________
|
3)
|
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is
calculated and state how it was
determined):
|
_________________________________
|
4)
|
Proposed
maximum aggregate value of
transaction:
|
_________________________________
|
5)
|
Total
fee paid: _____________________
|
¨
|
Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
|
¨
Check
box
if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify
the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule
and the date of its filing.
|
1)
|
Amount
Previously Paid:
__________________________
|
|
2)
|
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
_________
|
|
3)
|
Filing
Party:
_____________________________________
|
|
4)
|
Date
Filed:
______________________________________
|
AURORA
OIL & GAS CORPORATION
4110
COPPER RIDGE DRIVE, SUITE 100
TRAVERSE
CITY, MICHIGAN 49684
NOTICE
OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE
HELD AUGUST 29, 2008
NOTICE
IS
HEREBY GIVEN that an Annual Meeting of the Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of
AURORA OIL & GAS CORPORATION (the “Company”), a Utah corporation, will be
held at the Traverse City Golf and Country Club, 1725 South Union Street,
Traverse City, Michigan 49684, on August 29, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. local time,
to
consider and act upon the following:
|
1.
|
To
elect the seven persons named in the accompanying proxy statement
as
Directors of the Company;
|
|
2.
|
To
ratify the appointment of Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P. as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending
December
31, 2008; and
|
|
3.
|
To
consider and transact such other business as may properly come before
the
Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
|
Only
holders of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on June
24, 2008, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting and
any
adjournments thereof. A complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote
will
be available for inspection by any shareholder, for any purpose germane to
the
Meeting: (i) at least 10 days prior to the Meeting during ordinary business
hours at the offices of the principal executive offices of the Company listed
above; and (ii) at the Meeting.
Whether
or not you expect to be personally present at the Meeting, you are requested
to
either complete or return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope
or
instruct us by telephone or via the Internet as to how you would like your
shares voted. Instructions on how to vote your shares by telephone or via the
Internet are on the proxy card enclosed with this proxy statement. In the event
you attend the Meeting in person, you may, if you desire, revoke your proxy
and
vote your shares in person.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
/s/
Dean A. Swift
|
|
|
July
15, 2008
|
Dean
A. Swift
|
|
Secretary
|
AURORA
OIL & GAS CORPORATION
____________________________________
PROXY
STATEMENT
____________________________________
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON AUGUST 29, 2008
____________________________________
This
proxy statement (“Proxy Statement”) is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Aurora Oil & Gas
Corporation (the “Company”) to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
the Company (the “Meeting”) which will be held at the Traverse City Golf and
Country Club, 1725 South Union Street, Traverse City, Michigan 49684, on August
29, 2008,
at
9:00
a.m. local time, and any adjournment or adjournments thereof, for the purposes
set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and
in
this Proxy Statement.
The
principal executive offices of the Company are located at 4110 Copper Ridge
Drive, Suite 100, Traverse City, Michigan 49864. The approximate date on which
this Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy will first be sent or given to
shareholders is July 15, 2008.
A
proxy,
in the enclosed form, which is properly executed, duly returned to the Company,
and not revoked will be voted in accordance with the instructions contained
therein or, in the absence of specific instructions, will be voted in favor
of
the proposals and in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons
voting the proxy on any other matter that may be brought before the Meeting.
Each such proxy granted may be revoked at any time thereafter by writing to
the
Secretary of the Company prior to the Meeting, by execution and delivery of
a
subsequent proxy, or by attendance and voting in person at the Meeting, except
as to any matter or matters upon which, prior to such revocation, a vote shall
have been cast pursuant to the authority conferred by such proxy. The cost
of
soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. Following the mailing of the
proxy materials, solicitation of proxies may be made by officers and employees
of the Company, or anyone acting on their behalf, by mail, telephone, electronic
mail, facsimile, telegram, or personal interview.
VOTING
SECURITIES
Shareholders
of record as of the close of business on June 24, 2008 (the “Record Date”), will
be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
On the Record Date, there were 103,282,788 outstanding shares of the Company’s
common stock, $0.01 par value per share. Each holder of common stock is entitled
to one vote for each share held by such holder. The presence, in person or
by
proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock
is
necessary to constitute a quorum at the Meeting. Proxies submitted which contain
abstentions and broker non-votes will be deemed present at the Meeting for
determining the presence of a quorum. Shares subject to broker non-votes with
respect to any matter will be considered not voted with respect to that matter.
Shares for which a holder has elected to abstain on a matter will count for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum and will have the effect of
a
vote against the matter.
PRINCIPAL
SECURITY HOLDERS
The
following table sets forth, as of June 24, 2008, certain information regarding
the ownership of voting securities of the Company by each shareholder known
by
the management of the Company to be (i) the beneficial owner of more than 5%
of
our outstanding common stock, (ii) our directors, (iii) our current executive
officers and (iv) all executive officers and directors as a group. Except as
otherwise reflected in the notes below, the Company believes that the beneficial
owners of the common stock listed below, based on information furnished by
such
owners, have sole investment and voting power with respect to such
shares.
Unless
otherwise specified, the address of each of the persons set forth below is
in
care of Aurora Oil & Gas Corporation, 4110 Copper Ridge Drive, Suite 100,
Traverse City, Michigan 49684.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
(a)
|
|
Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership
(b)
|
|
Percent of
Outstanding
Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FMR
LLC (formerly known as FMR Corp.)
|
|
|
10,791,551
|
(c)
|
|
10
|
%
|
82
Devonshire Street
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boston,
Massachusetts 02109
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCM
Master Qualified Fund, Ltd.
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
|
9
|
%
|
One
North Wacker Drive, Suite 4725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chicago,
Illinois 60606
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nathan
A. Low Roth IRA and affiliates
|
|
|
8,586,409
|
(e)
|
|
8
|
%
|
641
Lexington Avenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New
York, New York 10022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William
W. Deneau
|
|
|
3,784,814
|
(f)
|
|
4
|
%
|
Kevin
D. Stulp
|
|
|
707,500
|
(g)
|
|
*
|
|
Earl
V. Young
|
|
|
596,204
|
(h)
|
|
*
|
|
Gary
J. Myles
|
|
|
488,798
|
(i)
|
|
*
|
|
Richard
M. Deneau
|
|
|
235,000
|
(j)
|
|
*
|
|
John
C. Hunter
|
|
|
129,400
|
(k)
|
|
*
|
|
Wayne
G. Schaeffer
|
|
|
155,000
|
(l)
|
|
*
|
|
Barbara
E. Lawson
|
|
|
67,500
|
(m)
|
|
*
|
|
John
E. McDevitt
|
|
|
130,000
|
(n)
|
|
*
|
|
Gilbert
A. Smith
|
|
|
-
|
(o)
|
|
N/A
|
|
All
executive officers and directors as a group
(10 persons)
|
|
|
6,294,216
|
(p)
|
|
6
|
%
|
*
Less
than 1%
(a)
|
Addresses
are only given for holders of more than 5% of outstanding common
stock who
are not executive officers or
directors.
|
(b)
|
A
person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of a security if such
person
has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of such security
or
the power to dispose or direct the disposition of such security.
A person
is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities if that
person
has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days of the
date
of this chart.
|
(c)
|
Based
on Form 13F-HR filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”)
on May 14, 2008, FMR LLC (formerly known as FMR Corp.), through its
wholly-owned subsidiary Fidelity Management & Research Company
(“Fidelity”), an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the
Investment Advisors Act of 1940, is the beneficial owner of 10,791,551
shares of common stock. Edward C. Johnson III and members of his
family
form a controlling group with respect to FMR LLC. Accordingly, FMR
LLC and
Edward C. Johnson III have the sole power to dispose of 10,791,551
shares
of common stock. They do not, however, have voting power, which instead
resides with the Board of Trustees of the investment companies that
are
managed by Fidelity.
|
(d)
|
Based
on Form 13F-HR filed with the SEC on May 15, 2008, 9,471,896 shares
of
common stock were deemed to be beneficially owned by CCM Master Qualified
Fund, Ltd., Coghill Capital Management, L.L.C., and Clint D. Coghill.
Mr.
Coghill is the managing member of Coghill Capital Management, L.L.C.,
an
entity which serves as the investment manager of CCM Master Qualified
Fund, Ltd. CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd., Coghill Capital Management,
L.L.C., and Clint D. Coghill share voting power and dispositive power
to
vote or direct the voting of the 9,471,896 shares beneficially owned
by
them.
|
(e)
|
Based
on Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on February 27, 2006, Nathan A.
Low has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of, and the sole
power
to direct the disposition of, the shares held by the Nathan A. Low
Roth
IRAs and the shares held by him individually. Although Nathan A.
Low has
no direct voting or dispositive power over the 828,643 shares of
common
stock held by the Nathan A. Low Family Trust or the 100,000 shares of
common stock held in individual trusts for the Neufeld children,
he may be
deemed to beneficially own those shares because his wife, Lisa Low,
is the
trustee of the Nathan A. Low Family Trust and custodian for the Neufeld
children. Therefore, Nathan A. Low reports shared voting and dispositive
power over 928,643 shares of common
stock.
|
(f)
|
Includes
options currently exercisable for 130,000 shares of common stock;
3,272,000 shares of common stock held by the Patricia A. Deneau Trust;
360,146 shares of common stock held by the Denthorn Trust; 20,000
shares
of common stock held by White Pine Land Services, Inc.; and 2,668
shares
of common stock held by Circle D, Ltd. (shared investment interest).
Does
not include options to purchase 320,000 shares of common stock vesting
as
follows: 70,000 shares on January 1, 2009; 83,333 shares on May 30,
2009;
83,333 shares on May 30, 2010; and 83,334 shares on May 30,
2011.
|
(g)
|
Includes
options currently exercisable for 130,000 shares of common stock;
2,750
shares of common stock owned by the Kevin Dale Stulp IRA; and 1,750
shares
of common stock owned by the Kevin and Marie Stulp Charitable Remainder
Unitrust of which Mr. Stulp is a co-trustee. Does not include options
to
purchase 170,000 shares of common stock vesting as follows: 70,000
shares
on January 1, 2009; 33,333 shares on May 30, 2009; 33,333 shares
on May
30, 2010; and 33,334 shares on May 30,
2011.
|
(h)
|
Includes
options currently exercisable for 196,666 shares of common stock.
Does not
include options to purchase 170,000 shares of common stock vesting
as
follows: 70,000 shares on January 1, 2009; 33,333 shares on May 30,
2009;
33,333 shares on May 30, 2010; and 33,334 shares on May 30,
2011.
|
(i)
|
Includes
211,132 shares of common stock held by the Gary J. Myles & Rosemary
Myles Inter Vivos Trust and options currently exercisable for 196,666
shares of common stock. Does not include options to purchase 170,000
shares of common stock vesting as follows: 70,000 shares on January
1,
2009; 33,333 shares on May 30, 2009; 33,333 shares on May 30, 2010;
and
33,334 shares on May 30, 2011.
|
(j)
|
Includes
options currently exercisable for 130,000 shares of common stock.
Does not
include options to purchase 170,000 shares of common stock vesting
as
follows: 70,000 shares on January 1, 2009; 33,333 shares on May 30,
2009;
33,333 shares on May 30, 2010; and 33,334 shares on May 30,
2011.
|
(k)
|
Includes
2,000 shares of common stock held by his minor son and options currently
exercisable for 100,000 shares of common stock. Does not include
options
to purchase 230,000 shares of common stock vesting as follows: 5,000
shares on May 19, 2009; 75,000 shares on May 30, 2009; 75,000 shares
on
May 30, 2010; and 75,000 shares on May 30,
2011.
|
(l)
|
Includes
options currently exercisable for 70,000 shares of common stock.
Does not
include options to purchase 170,000 shares of common stock vesting
as
follows: 70,000 shares on February 23, 2009; 33,333 shares on May
30,
2009; 33,333 shares on May 30, 2010; and 33,334 shares on May 30,
2011.
|
(m)
|
Includes
12,000 shares held by her spouse and options currently exercisable
for
45,000 shares of common stock. Does not include options to purchase
225,000 shares of common stock vesting as follows: 75,000 shares
on May
30, 2009; 75,000 shares on May 30, 2010; and 75,000 shares on May
30,
2011.
|
(n)
|
Includes
30,000 shares of common stock held by Financial Intermediaries, Ltd.;
and
100,000 shares on common stock owned by the John McDevitt IRA. Does
not
include options to purchase 1,000,000 shares on common stock vesting
as
follows: 333,333 shares on May 30, 2009; 333,333 shares on May 30,
2010;
and 333,334 shares on May 30, 2011.
|
(o)
|
Does
not include options to purchase 225,000 shares of common stock vesting
as
follows: 75,000 shares on May 30, 2009; 75,000 shares on May 30,
2010; and
75,000 shares on May 30, 2011.
|
(p)
|
Includes
options currently exercisable for a total of 998,332 shares of common
stock.
|
SECTION
16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act (“Section 16(a)”) requires certain defined persons to
file reports of and changes in beneficial ownership of a security registered
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in accordance
with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission to implement the
provisions of Section 16. Under the regulatory procedure, officers, directors,
and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of a company’s
equity securities are also required to furnish the Company with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file.
To
the
Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of Forms 3, 4 and 5,
and all amendments thereto, furnished to the Company with respect to its fiscal
year ending December 31, 2007, the Company’s officers, directors and greater
than 10% beneficial owners complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements,
except as follows: John C. Hunter filed a late Form 3 after he was appointed
to
serve as one of our Vice Presidents on May 30, 2007. John V. Miller, Jr. filed
a
late Form 4 for two transactions that occurred on October 25, 2007.
SHAREHOLDER
COMMUNICATIONS AND PROPOSALS
Generally,
a shareholder who has a question or concern regarding the business or affairs
of
the Company should contact the Company’s Investor Relations Officer. If a
shareholder would like to address a question directly to the Board of Directors,
to a particular Committee, or to any individual director, the shareholder may
do
so by sending his or her question in writing addressed to the Board of
Directors, a specific committee, or one or more specific directors, c/o Aurora
Oil & Gas Corporation, 4110 Copper Ridge Drive, Suite 100, Traverse City,
Michigan 49684, and marked “Shareholder Communication.” The Company has a policy
of generally responding in writing to each bona fide, non-frivolous, written
communication from an individual shareholder.
In
addition, questions may be asked of any Director at the Company’s annual meeting
of shareholders. The Company schedules its annual shareholders meeting on the
same day as a regularly scheduled quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors,
so all Directors generally attend.
Shareholders
may submit proposals to be included in the Company’s proxy statement for the
Company’s 2009 annual meeting as provided in SEC Rule 14a-8. To submit such a
proposal, a shareholder must mail the proposal to the Board of Directors as
a
shareholder communication in the manner described above. The deadline for
submitting a shareholder proposal for inclusion in the proxy statement for
the
2009 annual meeting is December 31, 2008. Any proposal received after this
date will not be eligible to be included in the proxy statement.
INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS
Rachlin
Cohen & Holtz LLP (now known as Rachlin, LLP) (“Rachlin”) has audited and
reported upon our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006. Effective March 23, 2007, the Audit Committee of the Company approved
the
dismissal of Rachlin as the Company’s independent registered public accounting
firm and approved the selection of Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P. of Fort Worth,
Texas (“Weaver”), for the year ending December 31, 2007. Weaver has audited and
reported upon our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2007. At the annual meeting, shareholders will be asked to ratify the
appointment of Weaver for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. A
representative of Weaver will be present at the Annual Meeting and will be
afforded the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to
respond to appropriate questions.
The
audit
report of Rachlin on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and
for the year ended December 31, 2006, and the audit report of Weaver on the
Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended
December 31, 2007, contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and
were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting
principles.
In
connection with Rachlin’s audit for the year ended December 31, 2006, and the
subsequent period through the Auditor Change Date (March 23, 2007), there were
no disagreements with Rachlin on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures,
which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Rachlin, would
have
caused Rachlin to make reference to the subject matter of such disagreements
in
connection with its opinions.
In
connection with Rachlin’s audit for the year ended December 31, 2006, there were
no events required to be reported under Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K,
except as described in the following paragraph.
As
described under Item 3 of the Company’s Form 10-QSB/A for the quarter ended
March 31, 2006 (as filed on October 31, 2006), Rachlin advised the Company
and
the Company disclosed that it had a material weakness resulting from a
deficiency in internal controls relating to the lack of accounting recognition
given to the stock option grants authorized and approved by the Board of
Directors in March 2006, which resulted in (i) the financial statements being
modified to account for all of the stock option grants in accordance with the
applicable provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R)
and (ii) remedial actions being taken by the Company. In addition, as described
under Item 3 of the Company’s Form 10-QSB/A for the quarter ended June 30, 2006
(as filed on October 31, 2006), the Company validated the remedial actions
taken
to correct the material weakness in connection with the reporting of stock
option compensation.
No
reportable events, as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, occurred
during the subsequent period through the Auditor Change Date.
During
the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, and the period through the
Auditor Change Date, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted
with
Weaver regarding any of the matters referenced in Item 304(a)(2) of Regulation
S-K.
Audit
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed by Weaver for professional services rendered for the
audit
of the 2007 financial statements, for reviews of the Company’s quarterly
financial statements for fiscal year 2007, and for services related to one
post-effective amendment of two different SB-2 registration statements and
two
different S-3 registration statements were $190,800.
The
aggregate fees billed by Rachlin for professional services rendered for the
audit of the 2006 financial statements, for reviews of the Company’s quarterly
financial statements for fiscal year 2006, and for services related to two
Form
S-8 registration statements, a Form SB-2 registration statement, and three
post-effective amendments of three different Form SB-2 registration statements
were $491,575.
Audit
Related Fees
There
were no other fees billed by Weaver or Rachlin during the last two fiscal years
for assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the
performance of the auditor review of our financial statements and not reported
under “Audit Fees” above.
Tax
Fees
There
were no fees billed by Weaver or Rachlin during the last two fiscal years for
professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax
planning.
All
Other Fees
The
aggregate fees billed by Rachlin for professional services rendered during
2007
in connection with the filing of one post-effective amendment of two different
SB-2 registration statements and two different S-3 registration statements
were
$16,769.
Audit
Committee Process
Our
Audit
Committee Charter requires our Audit Committee to pre-approve all audit services
provided by our independent auditors and all non-audit services provided by
our
independent auditors that are not eligible for the
de
minimus
exception contained in Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as
amended. Our engagement of Weaver to perform our audit for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2007, was pre-approved by our Audit Committee consistent
with the requirements of the Charter.
ACTIONS
TO BE TAKEN AT THE MEETING
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The
Board
of Directors, in accordance with the recommendation of its Audit Committee,
has
appointed Weaver as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit
the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ending
December 31, 2008. In making this appointment, the Board considered the
performance and independence of Weaver, including whether any non-audit services
performed by Weaver are compatible with maintaining independence. This year,
we
are asking our shareholders to ratify the appointment of Weaver as our
independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not
required by our charter, by-laws, Utah law, or otherwise, the Board of Directors
is submitting the appointment of Weaver for ratification because we value our
shareholders’ views on our independent registered public accounting firm. If our
shareholders fail to ratify the appointment, it will be considered as a
non-binding recommendation to the Board and the Audit Committee to consider
the
appointment of a different firm for fiscal year 2009. Even if the appointment
is
ratified, the Board and the Audit Committee may select a different independent
registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines
that such a change would be in the best interest of the Company and our
shareholders. Representatives of Weaver will be present at the Annual Meeting
and will be afforded the opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to
do
so, and to respond to appropriate questions.
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented
by
proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal is required for the ratification
of
the appointment of Weaver as our independent registered public accounting firm.
Shares not present at the meeting and shares voting “abstain” or broker
non-votes have no effect on the ratification of the appointment of Weaver.
Pursuant to AMEX regulations, brokers have discretionary voting power over
the
ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE
RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
WEAVER
AND TIDWELL, L.L.P. AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM.
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
Unless
otherwise indicated, the shares represented by all proxies received by the
Board
of Directors will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with their terms and,
in
the absence of contrary instructions, for the election of William W. Deneau,
John E. McDevitt, Richard M. Deneau, Gary J. Myles, Wayne G. Schaeffer, Kevin
D.
Stulp, and Earl V. Young as directors to serve for a term of one year and/or
until their successors are elected or appointed and qualified.
The
Board
of Directors has no reason to expect that any of the nominees will be unable
to
stand for election at the date of the Meeting. In the event that a vacancy
among
the original nominees occurs prior to the Meeting, the proxies may be voted
for
a substitute nominee or nominees named by the Board of Directors (or the
position may remain vacant) and for the remaining nominees.
Directors
are elected by a plurality of the votes cast.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE
ELECTION
OF EACH OF THE PERSONS NOMINATED BY THE BOARD: WILLIAM W. DENEAU, JOHN E.
McDEVITT
,
RICHARD M. DENEAU, GARY J. MYLES, WAYNE G. SCHAEFFER, KEVIN D. STULP, AND EARL
V. YOUNG
TO SERVE AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY.
Directors
and Executive Officers
The
following table sets forth the name, age, and position of each of our executive
officers and directors.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position(s)
with the Company
|
William
W. Deneau
|
|
64
|
|
Director,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
|
John
E. McDevitt
|
|
62
|
|
Director,
President, and Chief Operating Officer
|
John
C. Hunter
|
|
57
|
|
Vice
President, Exploration and Production
|
Barbara
E. Lawson
|
|
49
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Gilbert
A. Smith
|
|
61
|
|
Vice
President, Business Development
|
Richard
M. Deneau
|
|
61
|
|
Director
|
Gary
J. Myles
|
|
62
|
|
Director
|
Wayne
G. Schaeffer
|
|
61
|
|
Director
|
Kevin
D. Stulp
|
|
52
|
|
Director
|
Earl
V. Young
|
|
67
|
|
Director
|
Under
the
Company’s by-laws, the authorized number of directors is set at no fewer than
three and no more than ten directors. The Board of Directors currently has
seven
members. Each member of the Board of Directors serves for a term of one year
that expires at the following annual shareholders’ meeting. Each officer serves
at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until a successor has been
qualified and appointed.
To
the best of our knowledge, none of
our Directors has been convicted in a criminal proceeding, excluding traffic
violations or similar misdemeanors, or has been a party to any judicial or
administrative proceeding during the past five years, except for matters that
were dismissed without sanction or settlement, that resulted in a judgment,
decree, or final order enjoining the person from future violations of, or
prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or a
finding of any violation of federal or state securities laws.
Set
forth
below is certain biographical information regarding each of our directors and
executive officers:
William
W. Deneau
has
served on our Board of Directors and as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of
the Board of Directors since November 1, 2005. Mr. Deneau also served as
President until May 30, 2007. Mr. Deneau became an employee of Aurora Energy,
Ltd. (“AEL”) on April 22, 1997, when he sold his interest in Jet/LaVanway
Exploration, L.L.C. to AEL in exchange for AEL’s stock. On June 25, 1997, and
July 17, 1997, respectively, Mr. Deneau became a Director and President of
AEL,
which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company on October 31, 2005.
Mr.
Deneau continued to manage the affairs of AEL through January 1, 2008, when
it
was merged with the Company. William W. Deneau is the brother of Richard M.
Deneau, another one of our Directors.
John
E. McDevitt
has
served as our Director, President and Chief Operating Officer since January
22,
2008. Since 2006, Mr. McDevitt has been a Manager and Chief Executive Officer
of
Acadian Energy, LLC, a private company focused on unconventional natural gas
exploration and production in the New Albany Shale. From 2003 to 2007, Mr.
McDevitt was President of CDX Resources, a rig fleet and directional services
company that was owned by CDX Gas, LLC. Prior to that, he held positions with
CDX Gas, LLC as CFO and Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning. CDX Gas,
LLC was an independent oil and gas company focused on the onshore exploration
and production of unconventional natural gas, which was sold in 2006.
John
C. Hunter
has
served as a Vice President since May 30, 2007. He has worked for us since 2005
as Senior Petroleum Engineer. From 2004 to 2005, Mr. Hunter was Executive Vice
President of Wellstream Energy Services providing petroleum engineering
consulting services. From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Hunter was President of Terra
Drilling Services, LLC and TerraFluids, LLC, which provides short radius
horizontal drilling services, as well as drilling and completion fluids in
the
United States. From 1995 to 2004, Mr. Hunter was Director of Exploitation of
Torch Energy Advisors, Inc. located in Houston, Texas, where he managed a staff
of 15 employees dedicated to the development of oil and natural gas
properties.
Barbara
E. Lawson
has
served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 22, 2008. Ms. Lawson has
worked for us since March 2006 as SEC Reporting Manager. From 2005 to 2006,
Ms.
Lawson was Vice President of Simple Financial Solutions, Inc. providing
consulting services that covered public equity offerings and Sarbanes-Oxley
Section 404 implementation. From 1988 to 2004, Ms. Lawson was employed with
Midland Cogeneration Venture, LLP, an independent power producer, where her
last
position was Treasurer and Manager of Internal Audit. Ms. Lawson managed up
to
$450 million investment portfolio, administered compliance on $1.7 billion
of
bond debt, implemented Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements, and managed
at
least 12 internal audits annually.
Gilbert
A. Smith
has
served as a Vice President since February 1, 2008. Since January 2007, Mr.
Smith
has been a Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Acadian Energy, LLC. From
2002
to 2006, Mr. Smith was Vice President of Land and Contract Administration for
CDX Gas, LLC. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Smith worked as an independent consultant,
performing international strategic contract negotiation and business
development. Mr. Smith worked for Sun Exploration and Production Company
(subsequently named Oryx Energy Company) from 1978 through 1999 where he served
in various senior management positions.
Richard
M. Deneau
has
served on our Board of Directors since November 21, 2005. Mr. Deneau served
as a
Director and President of Anchor Glass Container Corporation (“Anchor”) from
1997 until his retirement in 2004. He was also the Chief Operating Officer
of
Anchor from 1997 to 2002, and the Chief Executive Officer of Anchor from 2002
until his retirement.
Gary
J. Myles
has
served on our Board of Directors since November 21, 2005. Mr. Myles also served
as a Director of AEL (which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
on
October 31, 2005) from June 1997 until January 1, 2008, when AEL was merged
into
the Company. He is currently retired from his primary employment. Prior to
his
retirement, Mr. Myles served as Vice President and Consumer Loan Manager for
Fifth Third Bank of Northern Michigan (previously Old Kent Mortgage Company),
a
wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank (previously Old Kent Financial
Corporation). Mr. Myles had been with Fifth Third Bank and its predecessor,
Old
Kent Mortgage Company, since July 1988.
Wayne
G. Schaeffer
joined
our Board of Directors on January 19, 2007. Mr. Schaeffer was employed by
Citizens Banking Corporation from 1983 until his retirement in June 2005.
Positions held with Citizens Banking Corporation include Executive Vice
President, Head of Consumer Banking (June 2002 - June 2005) and Executive Vice
President of Citizens Banking Corporation and President, Citizens Bank-Southeast
Michigan (June 1996 – June 2002).
Kevin
D. Stulp
has
served on our Board of Directors since March 1997. Since August 1995, Mr. Stulp
has worked as a consultant with Forte Group, on the board of the Bible League,
and is active with various other non-profit organizations and is currently
a
director of U.S. Silver Corporation, a publicly-traded silver mining company
with operations in Wallace, Idaho. From December 1983 to July 1995, Mr. Stulp
held various positions with Compaq Computer Corporation, including industrial
engineer, new products planner, manufacturing manager, director of
manufacturing, and director of worldwide manufacturing
reengineering.
Earl
V. Young
has
served on our Board of Directors since November 21, 2005. Mr. Young also served
as a Director of AEL (which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
on
October 31, 2005) from March 2001 until January 1, 2008, when AEL was merged
into the Company. He is currently President of Earl Young & Associates of
Dallas, Texas, which he founded in 1999. Mr. Young is also a Director and chair
of the Audit Committee for Diamond Fields International, a Canadian company
that
is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and is a producer of offshore diamonds
in Nambia with exploration activity in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Mr. Young
is a
Director of Madagascar Resources, an Australian public company that is engaged
in mineral exploration in Madagascar.
More
detailed biographical information about our directors and executive officers
may
be found on our website at
www.auroraogc.com
.
To
our knowledge, no director, officer
or affiliate of the Company, and no owner of record or beneficial owner of
more
than five percent (5%) of our securities, or any associate of any such director,
officer or security holder is a party adverse to us or has a material interest
adverse to us in reference to pending litigation.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STANDING
COMMITTEES
OF DIRECTORS
A
majority of our seven member Board of Directors qualify as independent
directors. The following directors are independent directors as defined in
Section 121A of the American Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Rules, a
non-employee director as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934, and an outside director as defined under Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code: Gary J. Myles, Wayne G. Schaeffer, Kevin D. Stulp, and Earl V.
Young.
We
require that all members of our standing Board committees be independent
directors. Our Board committees are as follows:
Audit
Committee: Wayne G. Schaeffer (chairman), Earl V. Young, and Gary J.
Myles.
Compensation
Committee: Gary J. Myles (chairman), Kevin D. Stulp, and Wayne G.
Schaeffer.
Corporate
Governance Committee: Earl V. Young (chairman), Kevin D. Stulp, and Wayne G.
Schaeffer.
Nominating
Committee: Kevin D. Stulp (chairman), Gary J. Myles, and Earl V.
Young.
During
2007, our Board of Directors met eight times. All of the Directors attended
at
least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and each committee on which
they served. Additionally, management discussed matters with the Directors
on an
informal basis.
Our
Shareholder Communications with Directors Policy states that the Directors
are
expected to attend our annual meeting of shareholders each year in person
whether or not they are standing for re-election. Each of the Directors attended
the annual meeting held in 2007.
Audit
Committee
We
have a
separately designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with
Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(“Exchange Act”). Members of the Audit Committee currently include Wayne G.
Schaeffer, Earl V. Young, and Gary J. Myles. Each of them is an independent
outside director. Wayne G. Schaeffer was designated by the Board as a financial
expert. We have included in the biographical information above a brief summary
of his relevant experience.
On
February 10, 2006, our Board of Directors adopted an Audit Committee Charter,
a
copy of which is posted on our website at
www.auroraogc.com
.
Among
the
responsibilities of our Audit Committee are: (i) to appoint our independent
auditors and monitor the independence of our independent auditors; (ii) to
review our policies and procedures on maintaining accounting records and the
adequacy of internal controls; (iii) to review management’s implementation of
recommendations made by the independent auditors and internal auditors; (iv)
to
consider and pre-approve the range of audit and non-audit services performed
by
independent auditors and fees for such services; and (v) to review our audited
financial statements, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Conditions and Results of Operations, and disclosures regarding internal
controls before they are filed with the SEC.
During
2007, our Audit Committee met five times.
Audit
Committee Report
The
Audit
Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Schaeffer, Myles, and Young. During
May 2007, the Board of Directors (“Board”) replaced Mr. Myles as Audit Committee
Chair appointing Mr. Schaeffer to serve in this capacity. Mr. Myles remains
a
member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Stulp, formerly a Committee member, was
not
reappointed to the Committee at the Company’s annual organizational meeting in
May 2007. Each member of the Committee meets the independence criteria
prescribed by applicable law and the rules of the SEC for audit committee
membership and is an “independent director” within the meaning of applicable
AMEX listing standards. Each Committee member is able to read and understand
fundamental financial statements, including the Company’s consolidated balance
sheet, consolidated statement of operations, and consolidated statement of
cash
flows. The Board has further determined that Mr. Schaeffer is an “audit
committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of
Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
During
March 2007, the Audit Committee unanimously approved and appointed Weaver and
Tidwell, L.L.P. to serve as external auditors for Aurora Oil & Gas
Corporation, replacing the former external auditors, Rachlin Cohen & Holtz,
LLP (now known as Rachlin, LLP). As a result, the audit report of Rachlin,
LLP
on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended
December 31, 2006, has been included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K/A as referenced below.
The
Audit
Committee reviews the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the
Board. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements
and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls. The Audit
Committee is responsible for engaging independent auditors to perform an
independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and to issue reports
thereon. The Committee reviews and oversees these processes, including oversight
of (i) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, (ii) the Company’s
independent auditors’ qualifications and independence, (iii) the performance of
the Company’s independent auditors, and (iv) the Company’s compliance with legal
and regulatory requirements.
In
this
context, the Audit Committee met and held discussions with management and the
independent auditors. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the
Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and the Audit
Committee reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with
management and the independent auditors. The Audit Committee also discussed
with
the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement
on
Auditing Standards No. 61 “Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU
Sec. 380,” as amended.
In
addition, the Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors the
auditors’ independence from the Company and its management, and the independent
auditors provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and letter
required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 “Independent
Discussions with Audit Committee.”
The
Audit
Committee also discussed with the Company’s independent auditors the overall
scope and plans for their respective audit. The Audit Committee met the
independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the
results of their examinations, the evaluations of the Company’s internal
controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial
reporting.
Based
on
the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended
to the Board the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2007, as
filed with the SEC. The Audit Committee and the Board also have recommended,
subject to shareholder ratification, the selection of the Company’s independent
auditors for fiscal year 2008.
This
report is submitted by the members of the Audit Committee.
Wayne
G.
Schaeffer, Chairperson
Earl
V.
Young
Gary
J.
Myles
Nominating
Committee and Nominating Process
The
Nominating Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Stulp, Myles, and Young.
The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending
qualified candidates to the Board for nomination as members of the Board. Each
of our Nominating Committee members is an independent outside director as
defined in Section 121A of the AMEX Corporate Governance Rules.
On
February 10, 2006, our Board of Directors adopted a Shareholder Communications
With Directors Policy, and on August 16, 2007, adopted a Nominating Committee
Charter. Copies of these documents are posted on our website at
www.auroraogc.com
.
Article
VI, Section 2 of our Nominating Committee Charter provides as
follows:
Process
for Identifying and Evaluating Candidates for Directors Recommended by
Shareholders
.
The
Nominating Committee will accept recommendations for potential nominees for
director from shareholders of the Company. Anyone wishing to recommend an
individual for the Board of Directors should forward the name, address and
biographical information of a potential nominee to the Nominating Committee
of
the Board of Directors of Aurora Oil & Gas Corporation, c/o Aurora Oil &
Gas Corporation, 4110 Copper Ridge Drive, Suite 100, Traverse City, Michigan
49684. The shareholder must submit in writing to the Nominating Committee the
recommended candidate’s name, a brief resume setting forth the recommended
candidate’s business and educational background and qualifications for service,
any other information relating to the nominee that is required to be disclosed
in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or as otherwise required,
in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and a notarized consent signed by the recommended candidate stating
the recommended candidate’s willingness to be nominated and to serve. Potential
director nominees submitted by shareholders of the Company will not be
considered by the Nominating Committee if they are not timely submitted in
accordance with the Company’s proxy statement. (These timing requirements are
not applicable to persons nominated by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors.) If the Nominating Committee chooses to consider any nominee
recommended by a shareholder, the Nominating Committee will evaluate the
potential nominee by personal interview. The interview will be conducted by
one
or more members of the Nominating Committee and/or any other method the
Nominating Committee deems appropriate, which may, but need not, include a
questionnaire. The Nominating Committee may solicit or receive information
concerning potential nominees from any source it deems appropriate. The
Nominating Committee need not engage in an evaluation process with respect
to a
proposed nominee unless: (i) there is a vacancy on the Board of Directors;
(ii)
a director is not standing for re-election; (iii) the Nominating Committee
does
not intend to recommend the nomination of a sitting director for re-election;
or
(iv) there is an increase in the number of directors to be elected.
At
least
a majority of our directors are required to be independent directors as defined
under Section 121A of the AMEX Corporate Governance Rules. We also require
at
least one director to qualify as a financial expert under Item 407(d)(5) of
Regulation S-K.
Other
characteristics that we consider in evaluating nominees for director include:
|
·
|
Professional
and personal ethics and integrity;
|
|
·
|
Ability
to devote sufficient attention to Board
duties;
|
|
·
|
Business
professional, industry knowledge or
contacts;
|
|
·
|
Business
and financial sophistication, common sense and wisdom, and the ability
to
make informed judgments on a wide range of
issues;
|
|
·
|
Relevant
skills and experience demonstrated through business, professional,
charitable or civic affairs; and
|
|
·
|
The
ability to exercise independent
judgment.
|
We
also
have performance expectations for our incumbent directors. Directors who do
not
meet these performance expectations may not be nominated to stand for
reelection. The performance expectations provided in our charter include:
|
·
|
Prepare
for, regularly attend, and actively participate in all scheduled
and
special meetings of the Board of Directors and each committee on
which the
director serves;
|
|
·
|
Offer
insight, support and advice to management in the director's area
of
expertise;
|
|
·
|
Ask
appropriate questions and maintain focus on the Board of Directors'
agenda;
|
|
·
|
Understand
the Company's business, finances and strategies;
|
|
·
|
Positively
interact with the Company's other directors and officers;
|
|
·
|
Act
in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and follow
the
Company's applicable ethics codes;
|
|
·
|
Attend
the Company's annual meeting and listen to any concerns of the
shareholders that are raised at an annual meeting;
and
|
|
·
|
Pursue
and attend continuing director education as
appropriate.
|
Our
Nominating Committee Charter reflects a philosophy that continuity in leadership
and Board and Committee tenure will maximize the Board of Directors' ability
to
exercise meaningful Board oversight. For this reason, provided that the
foregoing performance expectations and applicable personal characteristic
criteria are satisfied, incumbent directors will usually be nominated to stand
for reelection.
In
connection with the closing of the merger between Cadence Resources Corporation
and Aurora on October 31, 2005, certain shareholders, including certain former
Aurora shareholders who became shareholders of the Company in connection with
the merger, executed and delivered voting agreements pursuant to which they
agreed until October 31, 2008, to vote their shares of our common stock in
favor
of (i) five directors designated by William W. Deneau, who were initially
William W. Deneau, Earl V. Young, Gary J. Myles, Richard Deneau, and Ronald
E. Huff; and (ii) two directors designated by William W. Deneau from among
our
Board of Directors immediately before the closing of the merger, who were
initially Howard M. Crosby and Kevin D. Stulp. In addition, these shareholders
agreed to vote all of their shares of our common stock to ensure that the size
of our Board of Directors will be set and remain at seven directors. After
amendments to the voting agreements, an aggregate of 11.7 million shares,
approximately 11% of the Company’s outstanding shares, are subject to these
voting agreements.
In
addition, also in connection with the closing of the merger, certain of our
shareholders executed and delivered irrevocable proxies that currently name
William W. Deneau and John E. McDevitt as proxies to vote their shares through
October 31, 2008 in the manner determined by such proxies. An aggregate of
approximately 10.7 million shares of our common stock held by these shareholders
was subject to these proxies on the Record Date.
When
there is a vacant board position to be filled, the Nominating Committee
typically solicits suggestions for candidates from other Board members and
from
personal contacts and resources available to the Nominating Committee. If a
vacancy exists, the Nominating Committee will evaluate all candidates in the
same manner, without regard to whether the candidate is identified by a member
of the Nominating Committee or nominated by a shareholder. This year, no
director nomination was received from a shareholder.
The
Nominating Committee plays an active role in making nominations for independent
director positions. The Nominating Committee generally expects that the
Company's President and Chief Executive Officer will serve on the Board of
Directors. This year, there was no vacancy on the Board for an independent
director position, and the Nominating Committee did not engage in a search
for
nominees. John E. McDevitt was appointed to the Board when he was selected
by
the Board of Directors to serve as President and Chief Operating Officer. This
is the only change in the Board of Directors that has occurred during the last
12 months. At this time, the Nominating Committee has nominated each current
Board member to stand for reelection.
Corporate
Governance Committee
Our
Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of three independent directors:
Earl
V. Young, Chairman, Wayne G. Schaeffer, and Kevin D. Stulp.
The
Corporate Governance Committee plays a leading role in shaping the Company’s
corporate governance. It periodically conducts governance self-assessment
consisting of a review of the Company’s corporate governance practices. The
Committee reviews the Company’s practices and compares them to the best
practices followed by other companies. The Company’s goal is to operate with a
corporate governance program that adequately addresses the interests of the
Company’s shareholders and others. The Corporate Governance Committee recommends
governance standards to the Board of Directors, which are included
in:
|
·
|
The
charters for the Board’s Audit, Compensation, Corporate Governance, and
Nominating Committees; and
|
|
·
|
A
Code of Conduct and Ethics for all Directors, officers, and
employees.
|
These
documents are available on the Company’s website at
www.auroraogc.com
.
The
Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for administering the Code of
Conduct and Ethics. Under the Corporate Governance Committee Charter and the
Code of Conduct and Ethics, any proposed related party transaction must be
reported to the chairperson of the Corporate Governance Committee. If the
Corporate Governance Committee determines that there is a potential for conflict
of interest associated with the related party transaction, the Corporate
Governance Committee will review, evaluate, and perform due diligence with
respect to the proposed transaction and make a determination of whether, in
its
judgment, the transaction is fair to the Company. Only related party
transactions that have been approved by the Corporate Governance Committee
will
be allowed to proceed.
Compensation
Committee
Our
Compensation Committee is comprised of three independent directors, Gary J.
Myles, Chairman, Kevin D. Stulp, and Wayne G. Schaeffer. Each of these directors
is an independent director as defined in Section 121A of the American Stock
Exchange Corporate Governance Rules, a non-employee director as defined in
Rule
16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and an outside director as
defined under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
On
February 10, 2006, our Board of Directors adopted a Compensation Committee
Charter, a copy of which is posted on our website at
www.auroraogc.com
Our
Compensation Committee Charter delegates certain responsibilities to the
Compensation Committee, including the following:
|
·
|
Establish
compensation policies that effectively attract, retain and motivate
executive officers to successfully lead and manage the
company;
|
|
·
|
Review
and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to compensation
of
senior management, evaluate the performance of senior management
in light
of these goals and objectives, and set the compensation level for
senior
management based on this
evaluation;
|
|
·
|
Review,
evaluate and approve all compensation of directors and executive
officers,
including salary adjustments, bonuses, stock awards, stock option
grants,
warrants, perquisites and other
benefits;
|
|
·
|
Review
at least annually the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in connection
with setting compensation;
|
|
·
|
Review
and make recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to
the
adoption, amendment and termination of the company’s compensation plans
(such as 401(k) savings, profit sharing, and other retirement plans
and
employee stock plans), oversee their administration and discharge
any
duties allocated to the Committee under any such
plan;
|
|
·
|
Review,
evaluate and make recommendations to the Board of Directors with
respect
to the approval of the employment agreements of executive officers;
and
|
|
·
|
Review
director compensation levels and practices and recommend to the Board
of
Directors, from time to time, changes in such compensation levels
and
practices.
|
As
a
matter of practice and procedure, our Compensation Committee makes
recommendations to the full Board of Directors for the compensation package
for
each of our executive officers. The final compensation package for our executive
officers is required to be approved by a majority of our independent directors.
We receive input from our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President about
their recommendations for the structure of our executive officer compensation.
However, we do not allow any executive officer whose compensation is being
set
to be present at either the Compensation Committee meeting or the Board of
Directors meeting during the time that his or her compensation is being
deliberated about or voted upon.
We
generally seek to establish executive compensation at the first Board of
Directors meeting of every year. If there are unresolved issues related to
executive compensation at the first Board of Directors meeting of the year,
executive compensation may be established at later Board of Directors meetings,
and any compensation adjustments from the prior year may be applied
retroactively to the beginning of the year. To the extent that there are stock
options awarded for a year to existing executive officers, we will tie the
exercise price to the closing price at which our stock is traded on the first
day of the Board of Directors meeting at which the option awards are approved.
To the extent that we hire new executive officers and award them stock options
as a signing bonus, the exercise price of the options will be the closing price
at which our stock is traded on the first day of the following calendar
quarter.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks And Insider Participation
None
of
our Compensation Committee members were, during our fiscal year ending December
31, 2007, or at any prior time, employed as an officer or employee of the
Company. There are no relationships between the members of our Compensation
Committee and the Company that require disclosure.
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
General
Objectives of Compensation Program
Our
Compensation Committee Charter states that the Committee’s objective is to
develop a compensation system that is competitive with our peers and encourages
both short-term and long-term performance in a manner beneficial to us and
our
operations. Our compensation philosophy will vary among the executive officers,
depending upon variables such as previous history with the company, number
of
shares of company stock owned, the impact of peer group comparison, and whether
recruitment is a factor under the circumstances. We do not believe that a single
approach or even a single objective is appropriate with respect to all executive
officers. If an executive officer is also a director, it is our practice to
compensate him only as an executive officer. He will not participate in the
compensation awarded to the non-employee directors.
Compensation
of our Executive Officers
Objectives
As
we
entered 2007, our primary objective for the year 2007 was to maintain a fair
compensation level while we continued to work on developing a more comprehensive
compensation philosophy. Our human resources department also worked with a
compensation consultant to develop a comprehensive compensation plan for all
employees other than executive officers. It was initially our plan that after
completing this project we would focus on a compensation philosophy for our
executive officers that would tie into the larger overall plan.
Before
we
were able to accomplish this goal, our Board of Directors engaged the services
of an investment banker to explore strategic alternatives. Because a wide
assortment of strategic alternatives were under consideration, the Compensation
Committee determined that it would be premature to put in place any
comprehensive compensation philosophy for executive officers.
The
exploration of strategic alternatives was concluded in early March, 2008.
Accordingly, the Compensation Committee has decided to refocus on the goal
of
establishing a comprehensive compensation philosophy for executive officers
that
will tie into our new strategic direction. The Compensation Committee plans
to
work on this compensation philosophy with the assistance of our new management
team, which was put in place in January, 2008.
Elements
of Executive Compensation
Base
Salary.
It
is our
practice to re-evaluate base salary for our executive officers each year. In
general, our philosophy is to pay a base salary that is fair in the sense of
being competitive enough in the market place to attract and retain our executive
officers, given the circumstances of each individual involved, but no more.
Our
philosophy is not to match the base salary paid by our peers, but to determine
what is fair and competitive overall compensation under the circumstances.
In
2006, we retained the services of a compensation consulting firm that provided
us with data regarding compensation for peer executive officers within our
industry.
In
2007,
with one exception, the base salary raises that we gave to our executive
officers were minor salary adjustments intended to reflect cost of living
increases. We did not provide substantial salary increases because we felt
that
the accomplishments of our executive officers in 2006 did not meet our goals
and
did not merit significant performance increases. In 2007, we did provide one
salary increase in an amount that exceeded a cost of living adjustment to an
executive officer who assumed additional responsibilities.
With
the
exception of our CEO, by the end of the first quarter of 2008, our executive
management team was completely different than the team we had in place during
the first quarter of 2007. Accordingly, as new executive officers were hired,
their salaries were set at a level that we believed would attract, retain and
motivate competent employees, but no more. We have not yet awarded our CEO
a
salary increase in 2008.
We
will
generally not increase or decrease our base salary compensation levels
materially unless there is a material change in our financial and stock market
performance or change in our business circumstance. We will generally look
at
modest annual increases as a means of making up for inflationary cost of living
increases and to provide some modest merit-based increase for work done during
the prior year.
Annual
Performance Bonus
.
Our
approach to the use of annual performance bonuses will vary from year to year.
During the year 2008, we intend to develop bonus-based compensation for our
executive officers tied to their achievement of performance metrics or the
character of their assigned duties. Although we do not yet have our anticipated
bonus plans in place, it is the goal of the Compensation Committee to
significantly increase the proportion of the compensation we pay to our
executive officers that is based on performance bonuses. Annual bonuses will
be
used to align compensation with performance based upon performance
metrics.
Special
Purpose Bonuses
.
In
2007, we implemented three special purpose bonuses. We retained the services
of
a compensation consultant to help us develop these special purpose bonuses.
The
special purpose bonus plans were put into place specifically as a result of
the
engagement of the investment banker to assist us in exploring strategic
alternatives. The Compensation Committee believed that this ongoing evaluation
process could result in disruption of employment continuity unless special
purpose bonuses were put into place. The bonus plans that we implemented in
2007
are as follows:
|
|
Stay
Bonus
–
the Stay Bonus Arrangement was adopted to encourage employees to
remain
employed by us through any possible change-in-control. For purposes
of
this arrangement, "change-in-control" was defined to mean any transaction
or occurrence (including a sale of stock or merger) where our shareholders
before the transaction or occurrence owned less than 50% of our voting
shares after the transaction or occurrence, or a sale or disposition
of a
majority of our assets. Under the Stay Bonus Arrangement, if a
change-in-control occurs on or before September 1, 2008 (since amended
to
December 31, 2008), and the employees who received this benefit remain
continuously employed by us through a change-in-control, the employees
who
participated in the Stay Bonus Arrangement are eligible for a stay
bonus
in the amount of 50% of their then current annual salary. The primary
motivation of the Compensation Committee in recommending this Stay
Bonus
Arrangement was to retain our employees during the strategic evaluation
process and to reward them for the extra work that they would have
to
undertake as a part of the exploration of the strategic alternatives.
|
|
|
The
Stay Bonus Arrangement applied to all of our employees other than our
CEO.
The executive officers of the Company who are covered by the Stay Bonus
Arrangement include our former Chief Financial Officer and President,
Ronald E. Huff, our former Vice President, John V. Miller, and one
of our
current Vice Presidents, John C. Hunter. The stay bonus arrangement
also
covers our current Chief Financial Officer, Barbara E. Lawson, who
at the
time the Stay Bonus Arrangement was established, was our SEC Reporting
Manager. We have since added John E. McDevitt, our current Chief Operating
Officer, and Gilbert A. Smith, one of our current Vice Presidents,
to the
Stay Bonus Arrangement.
|
|
|
Change-in-Control
Agreements
–
the Change-in-Control Agreements were adopted to encourage certain
key
officers and employees to remain employed with us through any potential
change-in-control. The Change-in-Control Agreements provide that
during a
two-year period following a change-in-control, the employees who
were
provided these agreements would: (i) have a position and duties
commensurate to those the employee had prior to the change-in-control;
(ii) perform his or her services at a location within a 35-mile radius
from his or her previous worksite before the change-in-control; and
(iii)
receive an annual base salary at least equal to the employee's annual
base
salary prior to the change-in-control unless a reduction in salary
occurs
on a proportional basis simultaneously with a Company-wide reduction
in
senior management salaries. If any of the foregoing commitments are
not
met, a "covered termination" is deemed to have occurred. In the event
of a
covered termination during the two-year period following a
change-in-control, the arrangement provides for the payment of an
amount
equal to either one or two times the employee's annual salary, the
provision of medical and dental benefits for up to 24 months following
the
date of termination, and benefits continuation substantially similar
to
those to which the employee was entitled prior to the date of termination.
|
|
|
The
executive officers who are covered by these Change-in-Control Agreements
include: William W. Deneau, our current Chief Executive Officer, who
would
receive two times his annual salary in the event of an applicable post
change-in-control termination; John E. McDevitt, our current Chief
Operating Officer, who would receive one times his annual salary in
the
event of an applicable post change-in-control termination; Gilbert
A.
Smith, one of our current Vice Presidents, who would receive one times
his
annual salary in the event of an applicable post change-in-control
termination; John C. Hunter, one of our current Vice Presidents, who
would
receive two times his annual salary in the event of an applicable post
change-in-control termination; and Barbara E. Lawson, our current Chief
Financial Officer (who, at the time the Change-in-Control Agreement
was
initially executed, was our SEC Reporting Manager) who would receive
two
times her annual salary in the event of an applicable post
change-in-control termination. This is an increase from one times her
annual salary in the prior Change-in-Control
Agreement.
|
|
|
Retention
Bonus
–
The Retention Bonus Arrangement was adopted to encourage certain
key
officers and employees to remain employed by us through any possible
changes in control. The Compensation Committee and Board of Directors
recognized that certain key officers and employees would have increased
responsibilities and duties during the evaluation of strategic
alternatives, and that they would also contribute significantly to
the
process. The Retention Bonus Arrangement consisted of equal payments
to be
made on October 26, 2007, December 26, 2007, February 26, 2008 and
April
28, 2008. The participating officers and employees were required
to remain
continuously employed through each of the scheduled payment dates.
The
final payment was made in April 2008 to those employees actively
participating in the strategic alternative
process.
|
|
|
Executive
officers who were entitled to participate in the Retention Bonus
Arrangement included Ronald E. Huff, our former President and Chief
Financial Officer in the aggregate amount of $100,000; John C. Hunter,
one
of our Vice Presidents, in the aggregate amount of $80,000; John V.
Miller, one of our former Vice Presidents, in the aggregate amount
of
$40,000; and Barbara E. Lawson, our current Chief Financial Officer
(who
at the time the Retention Bonus Arrangement was established was our
SEC
Reporting Manager), in the aggregate amount of $40,000. In each case,
one
quarter of the dollar amount specified was payable on each bonus date
based upon active employment.
|
Stock
Options
.
We use
stock options from time to time to serve as a long-term incentive to keep our
employees' performance aligned with our overall corporate goals. Because of
the
tax preferred treatment of incentive stock options, we evaluate the tax benefits
of incentive stock options when evaluating compensation for our executive
officers. In the past, we have not taken into account the effect of stock
options on our financial statements when we determine whether or not to award
stock options to our executive officers. This may change in the
future.
In
2007,
we did not award any stock options. Philosophically, the Compensation Committee
has agreed that stock options and other equity incentive awards should be
reserved for situations in which the executive officer meets stated goals or
to
incentivize desired outcomes. Stock options may also be used as a signing bonus,
although that did not occur in 2007.
Stock
Awards
.
In
addition to the issuance of stock options, we also have used, and from time
to
time expect to continue to use, stock awards as an element of executive
compensation. This determination will be made on a case-by-case
basis.
During
2007, we did not make any stock awards. In a unique contract with Ronald E.
Huff, who served as our Chief Financial Officer from June 2006 through January
2008, we agreed to make an award of 500,000 shares of our common stock. As
reflected in earlier filings, this stock award was negotiated as an inducement
to get Mr. Huff to accept our offer of employment. Mr. Huff’s contract will
continue to run through June 18, 2008, and, as reflected in a prior Form 8-K
filing, the Board of Directors agreed to issue the 500,000 shares of common
stock to Mr. Huff on that date.
In
the
future, we anticipate that stock awards will be reserved for use in the context
of a signing bonus or, in some cases, if certain performance goals are
satisfied.
Other
Types of Compensation
.
We do
not have in place at this time any other types of long-term incentive
compensation or special executive benefits not provided to all of our employees
on the same terms. Our philosophy at this time is to maintain a fairly simple
executive compensation structure.
Equity
Ownership Guidelines and Requirements
We
do not
require non-director executive management to own our equity. As described below,
Directors are required to own a nominal amount of our stock within a specified
period of time. This requirement applies to executive officers who are also
Directors.
Our
Insider Trading Policy prohibits all insiders, including executive officers
and
directors, from trading in any interest or position relating to our future
stock
prices, such as puts, calls and short sales. We have encouraged our executive
officers who desire to trade in our stock to establish 10b5-1 Plans in order
to
minimize the risk of trading on non-public information.
Compensation
Committee Report
The
Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation
Discussion and Analysis with management, and based on this review and
discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors
that the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this
Proxy Statement. This report is submitted by the members of the Compensation
Committee.
Gary
J.
Myles, Chairman
Wayne
G.
Schaeffer
Kevin
D.
Stulp
EXECUTIVE
OFFICER COMPENSATION
On
November 1, 2005, our prior management team was replaced by the Aurora
management team. As part of the merger, we changed from a September 30 to a
December 31 fiscal year-end. Our financial results for 2005 include 12 months
of
Aurora operations and two months (November and December 2005) of operations
of
Cadence Resources Corporation. We are disclosing executive compensation in
the
same fashion below. The information below shows compensation paid by Aurora
to
the executives listed below for the 12 months ended December 31, 2005, and
compensation paid by Aurora Oil & Gas Corporation for the 12 months ended
December 31, 2007, and 2006, and the months of November and December
2005.
The
following four tables set forth information regarding our Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and our remaining executive officer of the
Company.
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
Name and Principal
Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary ($)
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
Stock
Awards ($)
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
All Other
Compen-
sation ($)
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William
W. Deneau
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
118,958
|
(a)
|
|
4,500
|
(b)
|
|
273,458
|
|
President,
Chief
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
140,000
|
|
|
28,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
196,974
|
(a)
|
|
2,450
|
(b)
|
|
367,424
|
|
Executive
Officer
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
140,000
|
(c)
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
140,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ronald
E. Huff
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
208,333
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
1,050,570
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
6,167
|
(b)
|
|
1,315,070
|
|
Chief
Financial
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
105,400
|
(d)
|
|
-
|
|
|
566,521
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
2,000
|
(b)
|
|
673,921
|
|
Officer
(resigned as
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2,500
|
(d)
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
CFO
and President
effective
1/21/08)
(e)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
C. Hunter
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
119,167
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
35,992
|
(a)
|
|
3,575
|
(b)
|
|
198,734
|
|
Vice
President
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
109,167
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
38,288
|
(a)
|
|
1,650
|
(b)
|
|
149,105
|
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
V. Miller, Jr.
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
130,000
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
3,900
|
(b)
|
|
153,900
|
|
Vice
President
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
26,250
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
64,332
|
(a)
|
|
1,875
|
(b)
|
|
217,457
|
|
(resigned
effective
2/29/08)
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
125,000
|
(c)
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas
W. Tucker
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
73,750
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
73,750
|
|
Vice
President
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
26,250
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
64,332
|
(a)
|
|
-
|
|
|
215,582
|
|
(resigned
effective
6/30/07)
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
125,000
|
(c)
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
(a)
|
The
assumptions used to calculate value in accordance with FAS 123R may
be
found in Note 10 “Common Stock Options” of our financial statements
provided in our 12/31/07 Form 10-K/A which was filed on April 11,
2008.
|
|
(b)
|
These
reflect our company match to a 401(K) defined contribution
plan.
|
|
(c)
|
Some
of the executive officers received additional cash compensation
during
2005, but this was payment of deferred salaries for the years 2000
and
2001 that had been recorded but not paid. This includes an additional
cash
payment of $47,244 for Mr. Deneau, $26,667 for Mr. Miller, and
$50,000 for
Mr. Tucker.
|
|
(d)
|
Mr.
Huff became our chief financial officer on June 19, 2006. We paid
him a
salary in the amount of $90,900 (annual salary of $200,000 per year)
for
services rendered from the period June 19, 2006, through December
31,
2006. Mr. Huff served as a director throughout the entire year of
2006. We
paid him $14,500 for director services through June 18, 2006, including
compensation for his services as chairman of our audit committee.
We do
not pay our executive officers separate compensation for serving
as a
director. Accordingly, Mr. Huff did not receive separate compensation
for
his service as a director from June 19, 2006, through the end of
2006. The
salary paid to Mr. Huff in 2005 was related exclusively to his services
as
a director.
|
|
(e)
|
Mr.
Huff resigned as President, Chief Financial Officer and Director
of AOG
effective January 21, 2008. The Company had a 2-year Employment Agreement
with Mr. Huff, providing for an annual salary and an award of a stock
bonus in the amount of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on
January 1, 2009, so long as he remained employed by the Company through
June 18, 2008, which requires the Company to record approximately
$2.1
million in stock-based compensation expense over the contract period.
Mr.
Huff’s employment agreement will be honored by the Company through its
June 18, 2008 termination date. At December 31, 2007, the stock bonus
amount of 500,000 shares was unvested. However, this agreement has
been
modified to accelerate the award of Mr. Huff’s stock bonus in the amount
of 500,000 shares of common stock from January 1, 2009, to June 18,
2008.
|
GRANTS
OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
Grants
of
plan-based awards were not made to our executive officers during the year
2007.
The
following table sets forth information on exercised options and unvested stock
awards held by our executive officers as of December 31, 2007.
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
No. of Shares
Underlying
Unexercised
Options– No.
Exercisable
|
|
No. of Shares
Underlying
Unexercised
Options– No.
Unexercisable
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
No. of
Shares
That
Have Not
Vested
|
|
Market
Value of
Shares
That Have
Not Vested
|
|
William W. Deneau
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
140,000
|
|
$
|
3.62
|
|
|
11/11/10
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Ronald
E. Huff
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
$
|
775,000
|
|
John
C. Hunter
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
$
|
2.55
|
|
|
03/01/10
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
$
|
4.70
|
|
|
05/19/16
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
John
V. Miller, Jr. (former Vice President)
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
5.50
|
|
|
03/16/11
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas
W. Tucker (former Vice President)
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
5.50
|
|
|
03/16/11
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
No
options were exercised by executive officers during 2007. No stock awards held
by executive officers vested during 2007.
Had
a
change of control taken place on December 31, 2007, and certain other provisions
of the change in control agreement been triggered, John C. Hunter would have
been paid $264,000 in accordance with the change-in-control agreement referenced
above.
COMPENSATION
OF DIRECTORS
The
table
below sets forth the compensation we paid to our non-employee directors during
2007.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
|
|
Value of Option
Awards
|
|
Total
|
|
Richard
M. Deneau
|
|
$
|
50,500
|
|
$
|
196,974
|
(a)
|
$
|
247,474
|
|
Gary
J. Myles
|
|
$
|
55,000
|
|
$
|
196,974
|
(b)
|
$
|
251,974
|
|
Wayne
G. Schaeffer
|
|
$
|
51,000
|
|
$
|
145,348
|
(c)
|
$
|
196,348
|
|
Kevin
D. Stulp
|
|
$
|
53,000
|
|
$
|
196,974
|
(d)
|
$
|
249,974
|
|
Earl
V. Young
|
|
$
|
56,000
|
|
$
|
196,974
|
(e)
|
$
|
252,974
|
|
|
(a)
|
At
December 31, 2007, Richard M. Deneau owned options to purchase an
aggregate of 200,000 shares of our common stock, 60,000 of which
are
vested and 140,000 of which are
unvested.
|
|
(b)
|
At
December 31, 2007, Gary J. Myles owned options to purchase an aggregate
of
359,998 shares of our common stock, 219,998 of which are vested,
and
140,000 of which are unvested.
|
|
(c)
|
At
December 31, 2007, Wayne G. Schaeffer owned options to purchase an
aggregate of 140,000 shares of our common stock, all of which are
unvested
at December 31, 2007.
|
|
(d)
|
At
December 31, 2007, Kevin D. Stulp owned options to purchase an aggregate
of 250,000 shares of our common stock, 110,000 of which are vested,
and
140,000 of which are unvested.
|
|
(e)
|
At
December 31, 2007, Earl V. Young owned options to purchase an aggregate
of
333,332 shares of our common stock, 193,332 of which are vested,
and
140,000 of which are unvested.
|
For
2007,
our standard compensation arrangement for service as a non-employee director
was
as follows:
|
|
Annual
retainer of $25,000.
|
|
|
Cash
fee of $1,000 per Board of Directors meeting attended in person,
with
additional payments of $1,000 per day for each travel day from the
Director’s place of residence to the location of the Board of Directors
meeting, up to a total of two additional days in addition to the
date of
the meeting.
|
|
|
Cash
fee of $500 for participation in each telephonic Board of Directors
meeting.
|
|
|
Cash
fee of $1,000 for each committee meeting attended in
person.
|
|
|
Cash
fee of $500 for participating in each telephonic committee
meeting.
|
|
|
Compensation
for meetings is a daily aggregate fee without regard to the number
of
meetings held in proximity to each other and, for purposes hereof,
Board
meetings and Committee meetings shall be considered together and
shall be
covered by a single aggregate daily
fee.
|
Our
Board
of Directors has adopted a policy requiring each director to own at least 20,000
shares of our common stock. For new directors, this requirement must be
satisfied within one year of joining our Board of Directors. This requirement
applies to all directors, including those who are employees and those who are
not employees.
We
do not
have any other contractual arrangements with any of our Directors. During 2007,
we did not have any written employment contracts with our executive officers,
except with respect to Ronald E. Huff as noted above. We do not have any
compensatory arrangements with our executive officers other than as described
above. We have not agreed to make any payments to our named executive officers
because of resignation, retirement, or any other termination of employment
with
us or our subsidiaries, or from a change in control of us, or a change in the
executive’s responsibilities following a change in control, except with respect
to William W. Deneau, John E. McDevitt, Gilbert A. Smith, John C. Hunter and
Barbara E. Lawson, as noted above.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS OR RELATED TRANSACTIONS
William
Deneau, our CEO, and John Miller, who was an officer during the reporting
period, are involved as equity owners in three corporations and one limited
liability company. The three corporations own miscellaneous overriding royalty
interests in wells in which the Company has an interest but are operated by
unrelated third parties. During 2006, these officers divested themselves of
all
interests for which the Company served as operator.
In
March
2006, we entered into a joint venture agreement with certain unrelated parties.
The joint venture covered the acquisition and development of oil and gas leases
in various counties located in Oklahoma. The joint venture project was known
as
the "Oak Tree Project." We participated in the joint venture through a wholly
owned subsidiary, AOK Energy, LLC ("AOK"). Effective May 28, 2008, we entered
into an Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Limited Liability Company
Memberships with Presidium Energy, LC ("Presidium"), pursuant to which we will
sell to Presidium all of the outstanding member interests in AOK for a purchase
price that includes the payment of certain liabilities that the operator alleges
is owed by the Company to other participants in the joint venture, a cash
payment to us of $10,500,000, and an assignment to us of a 3% overriding royalty
in certain leases in the Oak Tree Project.
Presidium
is wholly owned and operated by John V. Miller, who served as our Vice President
from November 1, 2005 until he resigned on February 29, 2008. We have not had
an
appraisal of the value of the AOK member interest performed, and we are not
able
to estimate its value. It is unknown whether Mr. Miller will be able to retain
the entire value of the AOK member interest by virtue of his ownership of
Presidium, or whether his interest will be diluted before the transaction is
consummated.
Effective
January 22, 2008, the Board of Directors named John E. McDevitt as President,
Chief Operating Officer and Director. The Board of Directors also named Gilbert
A. Smith as Vice President of Business Development effective as of February
1,
2008.
On
January 10, 2008, we signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to acquire Acadian
Energy, LLC (“Acadian”). Mr. McDevitt (through a controlled entity) and Mr.
Smith are the sole members of Acadian (60% and 40% respectively). The proposed
acquisition is valued at approximately $12.5 million and will include over
10,000 acres of New Albany Shale properties, 4 development wells, and
approximately 7 bcf in proved reserves.
Effective
April 1, 2008, we entered into an agreement with Acadian to provide oil and
gas
operating services on properties located in the State of Indiana. This agreement
will remain effective through the acquisition closing date or December 31,
2008,
whichever comes first. Under the terms of the agreement, we are not entitled
to
monetary consideration. Services will be performed to maintain the value of
the
properties prior to transfer of ownership from Acadian to us.
On
June
24, 2008, we entered into an agreement with Acadian to provide funding to
maintain and preserve the value of Acadian's properties located in the State
of
Indiana pending our acquisition of Acadian. We agreed to advance approximately
$83,000 pursuant to an authority for expenditure to be used for the purpose
of
bringing wells into compliance with the requirements of the State of Indiana
and
if practical, into production. We may also advance additional funds, subject
to
our prior written approval. If we acquire Acadian or its assets by October
1,
2008, the advances will become our obligation. If we do not acquire Acadian
or
its assets by October 1, 2008, Acadian will be required to reimburse us for
the
amount of the advances using 100% of the net revenue proceeds earned by Acadian
from the wells that are subject to the agreement, provided, however, that
Acadian is required to reimburse us for the entire amount of the advances no
later than October 1, 2009. We also agreed to pay Acadian's legal expenses
incurred to the date of the agreement in connection with our proposed
acquisition of Acadian. We may pay additional legal expenses of Acadian subject
to our prior written approval. The amount we have paid to date for legal
expenses plus the amount we have agreed to pay totals approximately
$94,000.
Effective
May 30, 2007, the board of directors named John C. Hunter as Vice President
of
Exploration and Production. He has worked for the Company since 2005 as Senior
Petroleum Engineer. Prior to that, Mr. Hunter was instrumental in certain
projects associated with the Company’s New Albany shale play. Over a series of
agreements with the Company, Mr. Hunter (controlling member of Venator Energy,
LLC) has acquired 1.25% working interest in certain leases. The leases cover
approximately 132,600 acres (1,658 net) in certain counties located in Indiana.
The 1.25% carried working interest shall be effective until development costs
exceed $30 million. Thereafter, participation may continue as a standard 1.25%
working interest owner. The Company is entitled to recovery of 100% of
development costs (plus interest at a rate of 6.75% per annum compounded
annually) from 85% of the net operating revenue generated from oil and gas
production developed directly or indirectly in the area of mutual interest
covered by the agreement. As of December 31, 2007, there is no production
associated with this working interest and development costs were approximately
$12.4 million.
Effective
July 1, 2004, Aurora Energy, Ltd., (“AEL”), entered into a Fee Sharing Agreement
with Mr. Hunter as compensation for bringing Bluegrass Energy Enhancement Fund,
LLC (“Bluegrass”) and AEL together for the development of the 1500 Antrim and
Red Run Projects in Michigan. At this time, AEL and Bluegrass have discontinued
leasing activities in both projects. In the 1500 Antrim project, there are
23,989.41 acres. Mr. Hunter's carried working interest share of 0.8333% is
approximately 199.95 net acres. The carried working interest relates to the
first 55 wells that are drilled in the area of mutual interest. Thereafter,
Mr.
Hunter would pay his proportionate share of working interest expenses.
Currently, there are no producing wells. The Red Run project contains 12,893.64
acres. Mr. Hunter's carried working interest share of 0.8333% is approximately
107.44 net acres. The carried working interest relates to the first 55 wells
that are drilled in the area of mutual interest. Thereafter, Mr. Hunter would
pay his proportionate share of working interest expenses. Currently, there
are 3
wells permitted for the Red Run project and one well was temporarily
abandoned.
CODE
OF ETHICS
We
have
adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our directors, executive
officers and employees. Please see Item 13, Exhibit 14.1. Our Code of Ethics
is
also posted on our website at
www.auroraogc.com
.
OTHER
MATTERS
Management
does not intend to bring before the Meeting any matters other than those
specifically described above and knows of no matters other than the foregoing
to
come before the Meeting. If any other matters or motions properly come before
the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy
to vote the proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters or motions,
including any matters dealing with the conduct of the Meeting.
ANNUAL
REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS AND FORM 10-K
The
2007
Annual Report, including the Company’s fiscal 2007 Form 10-K/A (the “2007 Form
10-K/A”) (which is not a part of the Company’s proxy soliciting materials), is
being mailed to the Company’s shareholders with this proxy statement. The 2007
Form 10-K/A and the exhibits filed with it are available at the Company’s
website at
www.auroraogc.com
.
Upon
request by any shareholder to Investor Relations at the address listed above,
a
copy of any or all exhibits to the 2007 Form 10-K/A will be
furnished.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
/s/
Dean A. Swift
|
|
|
July
15, 2008
|
Dean
A. Swift
|
|
Secretary
|