SouthGobi Resources announces second quarter 2018 financial and operating results

HONG KONG, Aug. 14, 2018 - SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX: SGQ, HK: 1878) (the "Company" or “SouthGobi”) today announces its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018. All figures are in U.S. dollars (“USD”) unless otherwise stated.

Significant Events and Highlights

The Company’s significant events and highlights for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and the subsequent period up to August 14, 2018 are as follows:

• Operating Results – As a result of improved market conditions and prices for coal in China as well as a higher portion of sales were made through our Inner Mongolia subsidiary, the Company experienced an increase in the average selling price of coal from $25.2 per tonne in the second quarter of 2017 to $32.8 per tonne in the second quarter of 2018. However, the volume of coal sales has decreased from 1.5 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2017 to 0.6 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2018 as a result of the delay in the customs clearance process at the Ceke border which the Company has been experiencing since July 2017 and a certain portion of the Company’s coal products failing to meet the quality standards established under Chinese import regulations.
  
• Financial Results – The Company recorded a gross profit of $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to $7.3 million in the second quarter of 2017 while a $19.8 million loss from operations was recorded in the second quarter of 2018 compared to a $0.9 million profit from operations in the second quarter of 2017. The overall financial results have worsened when compared to the second quarter of 2017, which was principally attributable to the diseconomies of scale driven by decreased sales volume, the recognition of a provision for doubtful notes receivables of $7.7 million and the recognition of a provision for doubtful trade and other receivables of $8.2 million during the quarter. The recognition of a provision for doubtful notes receivables and trade and other receivables follows after a credit reassessment exercise carried out during the second quarter of 2018 which concluded with the Company only continuing coal deliveries to customers with above-standard credit ratings in order to preserve the capital of the Company and discontinuing coal deliveries to certain other customers. The provision recognized relates to receivables from those customers that the Company has ceased coal shipments to. The Company is investigating the matter and exploring different options to retrieve the balance of these doubtful trade and notes receivables.

• China Investment Corporation (“CIC”) Convertible Debenture (“CIC Convertible Debenture”) – Pursuant to the terms of the deferral agreement dated June 12, 2017 (the “June 2017 Deferral Agreement”) with CIC in relation to a revised payment schedule on the $22.3 million of cash interest and associated costs originally due under the CIC Convertible Debenture on May 19, 2017 (the “May 2017 Interest Payable”), the Company was required to pay $9.7 million of cash interest and associated costs to CIC on November 19, 2017 (the “June 2017 Deferral Agreement Payment”). In addition, pursuant to the terms of the CIC Convertible Debenture, the Company was required to pay $8.1 million and $7.9 million of anniversary cash interest to CIC on November 19, 2017 and May 19, 2018, respectively (the “Anniversary Interest Payment” and together with the June 2017 Deferral Agreement Payment, the “November 19^th and May 19^th Payments”). Pursuant to the CIC Convertible Debenture, the Company was also obliged to issue $4.0 million worth of PIK interest shares (the “November 2017 PIK Interest”) to CIC on November 19, 2017.
  
  As of the date of this press release, the Company: (i) has neither paid the November 19^th and May 19^th Payments nor issued the November 2017 PIK Interest shares to CIC within the cure period provided for under the CIC Convertible Debenture; and (ii) has not agreed upon a repayment plan for such amounts with CIC. Consequently, the Company is in default under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement, CIC may, at its discretion, provide notice to the Company and declare all principal, interest and other amounts owing under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement immediately due and payable, and take steps to enforce payment thereof, which would have a material adverse effect on the business and operations of the Company and may negatively affect the price and volatility of the Common Shares and any investment in such shares could suffer a significant decline or total loss in value. As of the date of this press release, the Company has received no indication from CIC of any intention to deliver a notice of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement or to accelerate the amounts outstanding under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement.
  
  The Company is in discussion with CIC for a deferral of the November 19^th and May 19^th Payments and the November 2017 PIK Interest; however, there can be no assurance that a favorable outcome will be reached.
  
  As a consequence of the Company not entering into a deferral agreement with CIC as at June 30, 2018, International Accounting Standard ("IAS") 1 requires the Company to classify the entire balance of the CIC Convertible Debenture as a current liability as at June 30, 2018, notwithstanding the fact that CIC has not indicated any intention to deliver notice of default or accelerate the maturity of the CIC Convertible Debenture. The Company anticipates that both the debt host and the fair value of the embedded derivative will be classified as a non-current liability upon the execution of a deferral agreement, unless a future event of default occurs under the terms of the CIC Convertible Debenture.

• Changes in Management and Directors
  
  Mr. Zhiwei Chen: Mr. Chen was appointed as a non-executive director on April 13, 2018.
  
  Mr. Xiaoxiao Li: Mr. Li was appointed as a non-executive director on April 13, 2018.
  
  Mr. Shougao Wang: Mr. Wang was appointed as Chief Executive Officer on June 1, 2018 and was subsequently appointed as an executive director on July 3, 2018.
  
  Mr. Weiguo Zhang: Mr. Zhang was appointed as Chief Financial Officer on June 1, 2018.
  
  Mr. Aiming Guo: Mr. Guo was appointed as Chief Operating Officer on June 1, 2018.
  
  Mr. Bing Wang: Mr. Wang stepped down as interim Chief Executive Officer and returned to his prior position as General Manger, Sales and Marketing of the Company on June 1, 2018.
  
  Mr. Yulan Guo: Mr. Guo stepped down as Chief Financial Officer of the Company on June 1, 2018. On June 28, 2018, Mr. Guo did not stand for re-election at the Company’s annual general meeting of shareholders (the “AGM”) and ceased to be a non-executive director.
  
  Mr. Aminbuhe: On June 28, 2018, Mr. Aminbuhe did not stand for re-election at the AGM and ceased to be a non-executive director.
  
  Mr. Zhu Liu: On June 28, 2018, Mr. Liu did not stand for re-election at the AGM and ceased to be an Independent non-executive director.
  
  Ms. Lan Cheng: On June 28, 2018, Ms. Cheng was elected as a non-executive director of the Company at the AGM.
  
  Mr. Tao Zhang: Mr. Zhang was appointed as a vice president of the Company on July 3, 2018.

• Going Concern – In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company initiated a plan to change the existing product mix to higher value and higher margin outputs by washing certain grades of coal in order to produce more premium semi-soft coking coal and to initiate more processing of the lower grades of coal in order to reduce the ash content and improve the selling price and margins on its thermal coal product. The construction of the wash plant was substantially completed in 2017, however commencement of washing has been delayed to the fourth quarter of 2018. The current mine plan incorporates the coal washing and processing systems and contemplates significantly higher volumes of production in order to complement the Company’s new product mix and sales volume targets. Such plans will require a significant level of stripping activities over the next two years and certain capital expenditures to achieve the designed production outputs. Such expenditures and other working capital requirements will require the Company to seek additional financing in the form of finance leases, debt or equity.
  
  There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to successfully execute the measures mentioned above and secure other sources of financing. If it fails to do so, or is unable to secure additional capital or otherwise restructure or refinance its business in order to address its cash requirements through June 30, 2019, then the Company is unlikely to have sufficient capital resources or cash flows from mining operations in order to satisfy its current ongoing obligations and future contractual commitments. This could result in adjustments to the amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities in the Company’s condensed consolidated interim financial statements and such adjustments could be material.
  
  Unless the Company acquires additional sources of financing and/or funding in the short term, the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is threatened. If the Company is unable to continue as a going concern, it may be forced to seek relief under applicable bankruptcy and insolvency legislation. See section “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for details. As at August 14, 2018, the Company had $3.4 million of cash.

OVERVIEW OF OPERATIONAL DATA AND FINANCIAL RESULTS

Summary of Operational Data

(i) Average realized selling price is presented before deduction of royalties.
(ii) A Non-International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) financial measure, which does not have a standardized meaning according to IFRS. See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section. Cash costs of product sold exclude idled mine asset cash costs.
(iii) Per 200,000 man hours and calculated based on a rolling 12 month average.

Overview of Operational Data

For the second quarter of 2018, the Company had a lost time injury frequency rate of 0.06 per 200,000 man hours based on a rolling 12 month average.

For the three months ended June 30, 2018

As a result of improved market conditions and prices for coal in China as well as a higher portion of sales were made through our Inner Mongolia subsidiary, the Company experienced an increase in the average selling price of coal from $25.2 per tonne in the second quarter of 2017 to $32.8 per tonne in the second quarter of 2018. The product mix for the second quarter of 2018 consisted of approximately 12% of premium semi-soft coking coal, 33% of standard semi-soft coking coal/premium thermal coal and 55% of standard thermal coal compared to approximately 12% of premium semi-soft coking coal, 53% of standard semi-soft coking coal/premium thermal coal and 35% of standard thermal coal in the second quarter of 2017.

The Company sold 0.6 million tonnes for the second quarter of 2018 as compared to 1.5 million tonnes for the second quarter of 2017, as a result of the delay in the customs clearance process at the Ceke border which the Company has been experiencing since July 2017 and a certain portion of the Company’s coal products failing to meet the quality standards established under Chinese import regulations. The Company’s production in the second quarter of 2018 was lower than the second quarter of 2017 as a result of pacing the production to meet the expected sales, yielding 1.0 million tonnes for the second quarter of 2018 as compared to 1.9 million tonnes for the second quarter of 2017.

The Company’s unit cost of sales of product sold increased to $26.0 per tonne in the second quarter of 2018 from $18.5 per tonne in the second quarter of 2017. The increase was mainly driven by decreased sales volume and the related diseconomies of scale.

For the six months ended June 30, 2018

Due to the delays experienced in the custom clearance process at the Ceke border and a certain portion of the Company’s coal products failing to meet the quality standards established under Chinese import regulations, the Company sold 1.1 million tonnes for the first six months of 2018 as compared to 2.6 million tonnes for the first six months of 2017.

The average selling price increased from $24.9 per tonne for the first six months of 2017 to $37.8 per tonne for the first six months of 2018, which was mainly due to the improved market conditions and prices for coal in China as well as a higher portion of sales were made through our Inner Mongolia subsidiary.

The Company’s production in the first six months of 2018 was lower than the first six months of 2017 as a result of pacing the production to meet the expected sales, yielding 1.4 million tonnes for the six months of 2018 as compared to 3.4 million tonnes for the first six months of 2017.

The Company’s unit cost of sales of product sold increased to $27.7 per tonne in the first six months of 2018 from $19.8 per tonne in the first six months of 2017. The increase was principally attributable to the diseconomies of scale driven by decreased sales volume.

Summary of Financial Results

(i) Revenue is presented after the deduction of royalties.
(ii) Revenue and cost of sales relate to the Company’s Ovoot Tolgoi Mine within the Coal Division operating segment. Refer to note 3 of the condensed consolidated financial statements for further analysis regarding the Company’s reportable operating segments.

Overview of Financial Results

For the three months ended June 30, 2018

The Company recorded a $19.8 million loss from operations in the second quarter of 2018 compared to a $0.9 million profit from operations in the second quarter of 2017. The overall financial results have worsened when compared to the second quarter of 2017, which was principally attributable to the diseconomies of scale driven by decreased sales, the recognition of a provision for doubtful notes receivables of $7.7 million and the recognition of a provision for doubtful trade and other receivables of $8.2 million during the quarter. The recognition of a provision for doubtful notes receivables and trade and other receivables follows after a credit reassessment exercise carried out during the second quarter of 2018 which concluded with the Company only continuing coal deliveries to customers with above-standard credit ratings in order to preserve the capital of the Company and discontinuing coal deliveries to certain other customers. The provision recognized relates to receivables from those customers that the Company has ceased coal shipments to. The Company is investigating the matter and exploring different options to retrieve the balance of these doubtful trade and notes receivables.

Revenue was $17.4 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to $34.7 million in the second quarter of 2017. The Company’s revenue is presented after deduction of royalties. The Company’s effective royalty rate for the second quarter of 2018, based on the Company’s average realized selling price of $32.8 per tonne, was 9.9% or $3.2 per tonne compared to 5.5% or $1.4 per tonne based on the average realized selling price of $25.2 per tonne in the second quarter of 2017.

Royalty regime in Mongolia

The royalty regime in Mongolia is evolving and has been subject to change since 2012.

On February 1, 2016, the Government of Mongolia issued a resolution in connection with the royalty regime. From February 1, 2016 onwards, royalties are to be calculated based on the actual contract price in which transportation cost to the Mongolia border should have been included. If such transportation cost was not included in the contract, the relevant transportation costs, customs documentation fees, insurance and loading costs should be estimated for the calculation of royalties. In the event that the calculated sales price as described above differs from the contract sales price of other entities in Mongolia (same quality of coal and same border crossing) by more than 10%, the calculated sales price will be deemed to be “non-market” under Mongolian tax law and the royalty will then be calculated based on a reference price as determined by the Government of Mongolia. See the section entitled “Risk Factors - Company’s Projects in Mongolia” in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2017, a copy of which is available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Cost of sales was $15.1 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to $27.4 million in the second quarter of 2017. The decrease in cost of sales was mainly due to the decreased sales during the quarter. Cost of sales comprises operating expenses, share-based compensation expense, equipment depreciation, depletion of mineral properties, coal stockpile inventory impairments and idled mine asset costs. Operating expenses in cost of sales reflect the total cash costs of product sold (a Non-IFRS financial measure, see section “Non-IFRS financial measure” for further analysis) during the quarter.

Operating expenses in cost of sales were $6.4 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to $14.9 million in the second quarter of 2017. The overall decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to the net effect of: (i) decreased sales volume from 1.5 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2017 to 0.6 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2018 and (ii) less coal stockpile inventories were impaired during the quarter.

There was no impairment of coal stockpiles for the second quarter of 2018 (second quarter of 2017: $2.9 million). The coal stockpile impairments recorded in the second quarter of 2017 primarily related to the Company’s higher-ash content products.

Cost of sales related to idled mine asset costs primarily consisted of periodic costs, which were expensed as incurred and included mainly depreciation expense. Cost of sales related to idled mine assets in the second quarter of 2018 included $3.8 million related to depreciation expenses for idled equipment (second quarter of 2017: $2.2 million).

Other operating expenses was $18.1 million in the second quarter of 2018 (second quarter of 2017: $4.0 million).

The Company made a provision for doubtful notes receivables of $7.7 million in the second quarter of 2018 (second quarter of 2017: nil) for certain long aged notes receivables. Further, a provision for doubtful trade and other receivables of $8.2 million were made by the Company in the second quarter of 2018 (second quarter of 2017: $1.3 million) for certain long aged receivables based on expected credit loss model.

Administration expenses were $3.9 million in the second quarter of 2018 (second quarter of 2017: $2.2 million).

The increase in salaries and benefits was mainly due to the increase of headcount, which is to support the expansion of the sales channel in China.

Evaluation and exploration expenses were $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2018 (second quarter of 2017: $0.1 million). The Company continued to minimize evaluation and exploration expenditures in 2018 in order to preserve the Company’s financial resources. Evaluation and exploration activities and expenditures in the second quarter of 2018 were limited to ensuring that the Company met the Mongolian Minerals Law requirements in respect of its mining licenses.

Finance costs were $6.0 million and $5.5 million in the second quarter of 2018 and 2017 respectively, which primarily consisted of interest expense on the $250.0 million CIC Convertible Debenture.

Finance income was $0.1 million for the second quarter of 2018 (second quarter of 2017: $0.1 million), which primarily related to fair value gain on notes receivable upon redemption.

For the six months ended June 30, 2018

The Company recorded a $16.9 million loss from operations in the first six months of 2018 compared to a $3.3 million loss from operations in the first six months of 2017. The operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were impacted by the following factors: (i) improved coal prices in China; (ii) diseconomies of scale driven by decreased sales; (iii) provision for doubtful notes receivables of $7.7 million; and (iv) provision for doubtful trade and other receivables of $9.3 million. The recognition of a provision for doubtful notes receivables and trade and other receivables follows after a credit reassessment exercise carried out during the second quarter of 2018 which concluded with the Company only continuing coal deliveries to customers with above-standard credit ratings in order to preserve the capital of the Company and discontinuing coal deliveries to certain other customers. The provision recognized relates to receivables from those customers that the Company has ceased coal shipments to. The Company is investigating the matter and exploring different options to retrieve the balance of these doubtful trade and notes receivables.

Revenue was $40.6 million in the first six months of 2018 compared to $59.9 million in the first six months of 2017. The Company sold 1.1 million tonnes of coal at an average realized selling price of $37.8 per tonne in the first six months of 2018 compared to sales of 2.6 million tonnes at an average realized selling price of $24.9 per tonne in the first six months of 2017.

The Company’s revenue is presented net of royalties. The Company’s effective royalty rate for the first six months of 2018, based on the Company’s average realized selling price of $37.8 per tonne, was 7.1% or $2.7 per tonne compared to 5.6% or $1.4 per tonne based on the average realized selling price of $24.9 per tonne in the first six months of 2017.

Cost of sales was $31.6 million in the first six months of 2018 compared to $51.1 million in the first six months of 2017 as follows:

Operating expenses in cost of sales were $16.6 million in the first six months of 2018 compared to $25.6 million in the first six months of 2017. The decrease in operating expenses was primarily related to the decrease in sales volume from 2.6 million tonnes in the first six months of 2017 to 1.1 million tonnes in the first six months of 2018.

Cost of sales in the first six months of 2017 included coal stockpile impairments of $5.2 million, to reduce the carrying value of the Company’s coal stockpiles to their net realizable value. The coal stockpile impairments recorded in 2017 primarily related to the Company’s higher-ash products.

Cost of sales related to idled mine asset costs primarily consisted of period costs, which were expensed as incurred and primarily included depreciation expense. Cost of sales related to idled mine assets in the first six months of 2018 included $7.3 million related to depreciation expenses for idled equipment (2017: $5.4 million).

Other operating expenses were $19.4 million in the first six months of 2018 compared to $7.3 million in the first six months of 2017 as follows:

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company made a provision for doubtful notes receivables of $7.7 million (2017: nil) for certain long aged notes receivables. Further, a provision for doubtful trade and other receivables of $9.3 million were made by the Company (2017: $1.3 million) for certain long aged receivables based on expected credit loss model.

Administration expenses were $6.2 million in the first six months of 2018 compared to $4.6 million in the first six months of 2017 as follows:

The increase in salaries and benefits was mainly due to the operations of the new subsidiary in China, which was incorporated to expand the sales channels of coal in China.

Evaluation and exploration expenses were $0.3 million in the first six months of 2018 (2017: $0.2 million). The Company continued to minimize evaluation and exploration expenditures in 2018 in order to preserve the Company’s financial resources. Evaluation and exploration activities and expenditures in the first six months of 2018 were limited to ensuring that the Company met the Mongolian Minerals Law requirements in respect of its mining and exploration licenses.
Finance costs were $11.9 million and $11.2 million in the first six months of 2018 and 2017 respectively. This primarily consisted of interest expense on the CIC Convertible Debenture ($10.8 million for the first six months of 2018 and $10.7 million for the first six months of 2017).

Summary of Quarterly Operational Data

(i) Average realized selling price is presented before deduction of royalties.
(ii) A non-IFRS financial measure, which does not have a standardized meaning according to IFRS. See section “Non-IFRS Financial Measures”. Cash costs of product sold exclude idled mine asset cash costs.
(iii) Per 200,000 man hours and calculated based on a rolling 12 month average.

Summary of Quarterly Financial Results

The Company’s annual financial statements are reported under IFRS issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). The Company’s interim financial statements are reported under IFRS issued by the IASB as applicable to interim financial reporting. The following table provides highlights, extracted from the Company’s annual and interim financial statements, of quarterly results for the past eight quarters.

(i) Revenue is presented after deduction of royalties.
(ii) Revenue and cost of sales relate to the Company’s Ovoot Tolgoi Mine within the Coal Division operating segment. Refer to note 3 of the condensed consolidated financial statements for further analysis regarding the Company’s reportable operating segments.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity and Capital Management

The Company has in place a planning, budgeting and forecasting process to help determine the funds required to support the Company’s normal operations on an ongoing basis and its expansionary plans.

Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (“Turquoise Hill”) Loan Facility (“TRQ Loan”)

On May 25, 2014, the Company announced it obtained the TRQ Loan in the form of a $10 million revolving credit facility to meet its short term working capital requirements. The terms and conditions of this facility were filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on June 2, 2014. The key commercial terms of the facility were: an original maturity date of August 30, 2014 (subsequently extended as described below); an interest rate of one month US dollar LIBOR Rate in effect plus 11% per annum; a commitment fee of 35% of interest rate payable quarterly in arrears on undrawn principal amount of facility and a front end fee of $0.1 million.

During 2014 to 2015, the due date of the TRQ Loan, was extended several times and the maximum amount of the facility was reduced to $3.8 million.

On May 16, 2016, the Company and Turquoise Hill entered into a deferral agreement (the “May 2016 Deferral Agreement”), whereby Turquoise Hill agreed to a limited deferral of repayment of all remaining amounts and obligations owing under the TRQ Loan to December 29, 2017 in accordance with the schedule of repayments set out below:

• The Company agreed to effect monthly repayments on the last business day of each month in an amount of (i) $0.15 million per month from May 2016 to April 2017; (ii) $0.2 million per month from May 2017 to December 2017; and (iii) the remaining balance on December 29, 2017 (the payments in (i), (ii) and (iii), the "Repayments"); and
• Interest shall continue to accrue on all outstanding obligations at the 12-month US dollar LIBOR rate.

As of the date hereof, the Company has not paid its October, November and December 2017 monthly payments and the accrued interest. Pursuant to the terms of the TRQ Loan and the May 2016 Deferral Agreement, the Company is, as of the date of this press release, in default of its obligations under the TRQ Loan and the May 2016 Deferral Agreement as a result of the Company failing to make the Repayments in its entirety on or before the dates set out above. Consequently, all of the outstanding obligations under the TRQ Loan and the May 2016 Deferral Agreement are immediately due and payable to Turquoise Hill as of the date hereof. The Company is in discussion with TRQ for a deferral of the amounts outstanding under the TRQ Loan and the May 2016 Deferral Agreement; however, there can be no assurance that a favorable outcome will be reached.

As at June 30, 2018, the outstanding principal and accrued interest under this facility amounted to $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively (December 31, 2017: the outstanding principal and accrued interest under this facility amounted to $1.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively). A fair value gain of $0.1 million was credited to accumulated deficit upon the adoption of IFRS 9 starting from January 1, 2018.

Equipment Loan

Inner Mongolia SouthGobi Energy Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company, executed a $10.4 million loan agreement on August 31, 2017 with Beijing Jin Rui Tian Chen Asset Management Co Ltd. (“JRTC”) for the purpose of financing the purchase of mining equipment to increase the production capacity of the Company.

The key terms of the equipment loan are as follows:

• Principal amount of $10.4 million;
• Maturity date set at 12 months from each drawdown (subsequently amended);
• Interest rate of 12% per annum and payable upon maturity; and
• The Company was to have provided a corporate guarantee to cover the principal and interest owed and certain items of property, plant and equipment were to have been pledged as security upon the completion of equipment purchase.

A loan arrangement fee of 1% of the loan principal drawn was charged and will be amortized throughout the loan term. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, $0.1 million and $0.1 million of loan arrangement fee was amortized, respectively (2017: nil). The Company believes the principal amount is capped at the amount drawn down to date and the related mining equipment has not been purchased as of the date of the press release.

As at June 30, 2018, the outstanding principal for the equipment loan amounted to $2.3 million (December 31, 2017: $ 2.3 million) and the Company owed accrued interest of $0.2 million (December 31, 2017: $0.1 million).

On July 9, 2018, the Company and JRTC entered into a supplementary agreement with the key commercial terms of the equipment loan modified as follows:

• The Company agreed to repay the outstanding principal and accrued interest owing under the equipment loan in accordance with the following repayment schedule: (i) $0.5 million on July 9, 2018, (ii) $0.7 million on August 3, 2018 and (iii) $1.4 million on November 3, 2018; and
• Penalty Interest, at a rate of 0.1% per day, will be applied on any delayed repayment.

The amounts due on July 9, 2018 and August 3, 2018 have been paid by the Company as of the date of the press release.

Bank Loan

On May 6, 2016, SouthGobi Sands LLC (“SGS”), a subsidiary of the Company, obtained a bank loan (the “Bank Loan”) in the principal amount of $2.0 million from a Mongolian bank (the “Bank”). The principal terms of the Bank Loan include, among other things, an interest rate of 15.8% per annum, a maturity date of May 6, 2017 (subsequently extended as described below) and SGS being required to pledge certain of its mobile equipment in favour of the Bank as collateral for the Bank Loan.

On July 6, 2017, the Company and the Bank entered into a supplementary agreement with the key commercial terms of the Bank Loan modified as follows:

• Principal amount increased to $3.0 million;
• $2.3 million of the principal amount matured on May 6, 2018 while the remaining balance of the principal amount of $0.7 million will mature on January 4, 2019;
• Interest rate of 15.8% per annum applies to the $2.3 million portion of the principal amount, while an interest rate of 15.0% per annum applies to the remaining $0.7 million portion of the principal amount; in each case, interest is payable monthly; and
• Certain items of property, plant and equipment were pledged as security (subsequently released upon repayment of loan principal of $2.3 million).

$2.3 million of the loan principal was repaid to the Bank by the Company in May 2018.

On May 15, 2018, the Company and the Bank entered into another loan agreement with the key commercial terms as follows:

• Principal amount of the loan (the “2018 Bank Loan”) of $2.8 million;
• Maturity date set at 24 months from drawdown;
• Interest rate of 15% per annum and interest is payable monthly; and
• Certain items of property, plant and equipment with value of $9.5 million as at June 30, 2018 were pledged as security for both the Bank Loan and the 2018 Bank Loan.

As at June 30, 2018, the outstanding balance for the Bank Loan together with the 2018 Bank Loan was $3.5 million (December 31, 2017: $3.0 million) and the Company owed accrued interest of $0.1 million (December 31, 2017: $0.1 million).

Costs reimbursable to Turquoise Hill

Prior to the completion of the private placement with Novel Sunrise Investments Limited (“Novel Sunrise”) on April 23, 2015, Rio Tinto Plc (“Rio Tinto”) was the Company’s ultimate parent company. In the past, Rio Tinto has sought reimbursement from the Company for the salaries and benefits of certain Rio Tinto employees who were assigned by Rio Tinto to work for the Company, as well as certain legal and professional fees incurred by Rio Tinto in relation to the Company’s prior internal investigation and Rio Tinto’s participation in the tripartite committee. Subsequently Rio Tinto transferred and assigned to Turquoise Hill its right to seek reimbursement for these costs and fees from the Company.

As at June 30, 2018, the amount of reimbursable costs and fees claimed by Turquoise Hill (the “TRQ Reimbursable Amount”) amounted to $8.0 million (such amount is included in the aging profile of trade and other payables set out below). On October 12, 2016, the Company received a letter from Turquoise Hill, which proposed an arrangement for regular payments of the outstanding TRQ Reimbursable Amount. As of the date of this press release, the Company has received no indication from Turquoise Hill of any intention to demand payment of the TRQ Reimbursable Amount.

Going concern considerations

The Company’s condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which assumes that the Company will continue operating until at least June 30, 2019 and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of operations as they come due. However, in order to continue as a going concern, the Company must generate sufficient operating cash flows, secure additional capital or otherwise pursue a strategic restructuring, refinancing or other transactions to provide it with additional liquidity.

Several adverse conditions and material uncertainties cast significant doubt upon the going concern assumption. The Company had a working capital deficiency (excess current liabilities over current assets) of $202.9 million as at June 30, 2018 compared to $166.3 million of working capital deficiency as at December 31, 2017. Included in the working capital deficiency at June 30, 2018 are significant obligations, which include the obligation to pay CIC under the June 2017 Deferral Agreement in which the Company was required to pay $9.7 million of cash interest and associated costs on November 19, 2017. In addition, pursuant to the terms of CIC Convertible Debenture, the Company was required to pay $8.1 million and $7.9 million of anniversary cash interest on November 19, 2017 and May 19, 2018, respectively. The Company is in discussion with CIC for a deferral of the November 19^th and May 19^th Payments and the November 2017 PIK Interest; however, there can be no assurance that a favorable outcome will be reached. Accordingly the principal amount outstanding and all accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts owing under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement would immediately become due and payable in the event that CIC provides notice to the Company.

Pursuant to the Arbitration Award (as defined below), SGS has been ordered to repay the sum of $11.5 million to First Concept Industrial Group Limited (“First Concept”), together with accrued interest at a simple interest rate of 6% per annum from the date which the prepayment was made until the date of the Arbitration Award, and then at a simple interest rate of 8% per annum until full payment. On March 23, 2018, SGS received a notice from First Concept demanding payment of the full amount of the Arbitration Award, together with the accrued interest thereon, by no later than March 30, 2018, otherwise First Concept intends to commence enforcement proceedings against SGS in respect of the Arbitration Award. On May 10, 2018, SGS received a notice from First Concept advising that First Concept has obtained a court order dated April 27, 2018 from the High Court of Hong Kong granting leave to First Concept to enforce the Arbitration Award against SGS in Hong Kong. The Company is consulting with its independent litigation counsel regarding this matter. However, as SGS does not have any material assets, properties or place of business in Hong Kong, the Company is of the view that this court order will have little or no immediate impact on its ongoing operations. In the event that First Concept applies to enforce the Arbitration Award against SGS through judicial measures in courts of Mongolia or any other jurisdiction in which SGS has assets or properties, the Company intends to take appropriate steps to respond to such enforcement proceedings in the best interests of the Company through independent litigation counsel which has been retained by the Company for this purpose. If First Concept is successful in enforcing the Arbitration Award, the Company may not be able to re-pay the sum of $11.5 million and the associated interest. In such case, this will represent an event of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture and CIC would have another basis to declare the full principal and accrued interest owing thereunder immediately due and payable. Such an event of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture or the Company’s inability to re-pay the sum of $11.5 million and associated interest to First Concept could result in voluntary or involuntary proceedings involving the Company (including bankruptcy).

The Company also has other current liabilities, which require settlement in the short-term, including: the $1.3 million undiscounted balance of the TRQ Loan; and the principal amount of equipment loan of $2.3 million and interest due in August 2018; and $18.9 million of unpaid taxes payable by SGS to the Mongolian government.

Further, the trade and other payables of the Company continue to accumulate due to liquidity constraints. The aging profile of the trade and other payables has risen as compared to that as at December 31, 2017, as follows:

The Company may not be able to settle all trade and other payables on a timely basis, while continuing postponement in settling the trade payables may impact the mining operations of the Company and result in potential lawsuits and/or bankruptcy proceedings being filed against the Company. No such lawsuits or proceedings are pending as at August 14, 2018.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company initiated a plan to change the existing product mix to higher value and higher margin outputs by washing certain grades of coal in order to produce more premium semi-soft coking coal and to initiate more processing of the lower grades of coal in order to reduce the ash content and improve the selling price and margins on its thermal coal product. The construction of the wash plant was substantially completed in 2017, however commencement of washing has been delayed to the fourth quarter of 2018.

The current mine plan incorporates the coal washing and processing systems and contemplates significantly higher volumes of production in order to complement the Company’s new product mix and sales volume targets. Such plans will require a significant level of stripping activities over the next two years and certain capital expenditures to achieve the designed production outputs. Such expenditures and other working capital requirements will require the Company to seek additional financing in the form of finance leases, debt or equity.

There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to successfully execute the measures mentioned above and secure other sources of financing. If it fails to do so, or is unable to secure additional capital or otherwise restructure or refinance its business in order to address its cash requirements through June 30, 2019, then the Company is unlikely to have sufficient capital resources or cash flows from mining operations in order to satisfy its current ongoing obligations and future contractual commitments. This could result in adjustments to the amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and such adjustments could be material.

Unless the Company acquires additional sources of financing and/or funding in the short term, the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is threatened. If the Company is unable to continue as a going concern, it may be forced to seek relief under applicable bankruptcy and insolvency legislation.

As of the date of this press release, the Company is in default under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the TRQ Loan. Pursuant to the terms of the CIC Convertible Debenture, CIC may, at its discretion, provide notice to the Company and declare all principal, interest and other amounts owing under the CIC Convertible Debenture immediately due and payable, and take steps to enforce payment thereof. Pursuant to the terms of the TRQ Loan, all of the outstanding obligations under the TRQ Loan are immediately due and payable to Turquoise Hill as of the date hereof. As of the date of this press release, the Company has received no indication from CIC of any intention to deliver a notice of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture or to accelerate the amounts outstanding under the CIC Convertible Debenture and has not received any indication from Turquoise Hill of any intention to deliver a notice of default under the TRQ Loan.

Furthermore, continuing delay in securing additional financing could ultimately result in an event of default of the equipment loan, which if not cured within cure periods in accordance with the terms of the equipment loan, may result in the principal amounts owing and all accrued and unpaid interest becoming immediately due and payable upon notice to the Company by the lender of the equipment loan.

Factors that impact the Company’s liquidity are being closely monitored and include, but are not limited to, Chinese economic growth, market prices of coal, production levels, operating cash costs, capital costs, exchange rates of currencies of countries where the Company operates and exploration and discretionary expenditures.

As at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company was not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.

As at August 14, 2018, the Company had $3.4 million of cash.

CIC Convertible Debenture

In November 2009, the Company entered into a financing agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of CIC for $500 million in the form of a secured, convertible debenture bearing interest at 8.0% (6.4% payable semi-annually in cash and 1.6% payable annually in the Company’s shares) with a maximum term of 30 years. The CIC Convertible Debenture is secured by a first ranking charge over the Company’s assets and certain subsidiaries. The financing was used primarily to support the accelerated investment program in Mongolia and for working capital, repayment of debt, general and administrative expenses and other general corporate purposes.

On March 29, 2010, the Company exercised its right to call for the conversion of up to $250.0 million of the CIC Convertible Debenture into approximately 21.5 million shares at a conversion price of $11.64 (CAD$11.88). As at June 30, 2018, CIC owned, through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, approximately 23.8% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company.

On June 12, 2017, the Company executed the June 2017 Deferral Agreement with CIC for a revised repayment schedule on the May 2017 Interest Payable. The key repayment terms of the June 2017 Deferral Agreement are: (i) the Company is required to repay on average $2.2 million of the cash interest and associated costs monthly during the period from May 2017 to October 2017; and (ii) the Company is required to repay $9.7 million of cash interest and associated costs on November 19, 2017. The Company will pay a deferral fee at a rate of 6.4% per annum in consideration for the deferral.

At any time before the payment under the terms of the June 2017 Deferral Agreement is fully repaid, the Company is required to consult with and obtain written consent from CIC prior to effecting a replacement or termination of either or both of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, otherwise this will constitute an event of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture, but CIC shall not withhold its consent if the Board proposes to replace either or both such officers with nominees selected by the Board, provided that the Board acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company in the selection of the applicable replacements.

In addition, pursuant to the terms of the CIC Convertible Debenture, the Company was required to pay $8.1 million and $7.9 million of anniversary cash interest to CIC on November 19, 2017 and May 19, 2018, respectively. Pursuant to the Convertible Debenture, the Company was also obliged to issue $4.0 million worth of November 2017 PIK Interest shares to CIC on November 19, 2017.

As of the date of this press release, the Company: (i) has neither paid the November 19^th and May 19^th Payments nor issued the November 2017 PIK Interest shares to CIC within the cure period provided for under the CIC Convertible Debenture; and (ii) has not agreed upon a repayment plan for such amounts with CIC. Consequently, the Company is in default under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement, CIC may, at its discretion, provide notice to the Company and declare all principal, interest and other amounts owing under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement immediately due and payable, and take steps to enforce payment thereof, which would have a material adverse effect on the business and operations of the Company and may negatively affect the price and volatility of the Common Shares and any investment in such shares could suffer a significant decline or total loss in value. As of the date of this press release, the Company has received no indication from CIC of any intention to deliver a notice of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement or to accelerate the amounts outstanding under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement.

The Company is in discussion with CIC for a deferral of the November 19^th and May 19^th Payments and the November 2017 PIK Interest; however, there can be no assurance that a favorable outcome will be reached.

CIC has notified the Company that, as a condition for agreeing to any deferral, it requires that the mutual co-operating agreement (the “Co-Operation Agreement”) dated November 19, 2009 between the Company and CIC be amended to revise the manner in which the amount of the service fee payable to CIC under the Co-Operation Agreement is calculated with retroactive effect; however, the Company has not entered into any formal agreement in respect of the Co-Operation Agreement as of the date hereof.

Under certain conditions, including the non-payment of interest amounts as the same become due, amounts outstanding under the CIC Convertible Debenture may be accelerated. Bankruptcy and insolvency events with respect to the Company or its material subsidiaries will result in an automatic acceleration of the indebtedness under the CIC Convertible Debenture. Subject to notice and cure periods, certain events of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture will result in acceleration of the indebtedness under such debenture at the option of CIC. Such other events of default include, but are not limited to, non-payment, breach of warranty, non-performance of obligations under the CIC Convertible Debenture, default on other indebtedness and certain adverse judgments.

As a consequence of the Company not entering into a deferral agreement with CIC as at June 30, 2018, IAS 1 requires the Company to classify the entire balance of the CIC Convertible Debenture as a current liability as at June 30, 2018, notwithstanding the fact that CIC has not indicated any intention to deliver notice of default or accelerate the maturity of the debenture. The Company anticipates that both the debt host and the fair value of the embedded derivative will be classified as a non-current liability upon the execution of a deferral agreement, unless a future event of default occurs under the terms of the CIC Convertible Debenture.

Commercial Arbitration in Hong Kong

On June 24, 2015, First Concept served a notice of arbitration (the “Notice”) on SGS in respect of a coal supply agreement dated May 19, 2014 as amended on June 27, 2014 (the "Coal Supply Agreement") for a total consideration of $11.5 million.

On January 10, 2018, the Company received a confidential partial award (final except as to costs) (“Arbitration Award”) with respect to the commercial arbitration. Pursuant to the Arbitration Award, SGS has been ordered to repay the sum of $11.5 million (which SGS had received as a prepayment for the purchase of coal) to First Concept, together with accrued interest at a simple interest rate of 6% per annum from the date which the prepayment was made until the date of the Arbitration Award, and then at a simple interest rate of 8% per annum until full payment. The Arbitration Award is final, except as to costs which have been reserved for a future award. As at June 30, 2018, the Company has recorded a provision of $14.3 million for the commercial arbitration. (December 31, 2017: $13.9 million).

On March 23, 2018, SGS received a notice from First Concept demanding payment of the full amount of the Arbitration Award, together with the accrued interest thereon, by no later than March 30, 2018, otherwise First Concept intends to commence enforcement proceedings against SGS in respect of the Arbitration Award. On May 10, 2018, SGS received a notice from First Concept advising that First Concept has obtained a court order dated April 27, 2018 from the High Court of Hong Kong granting leave to First Concept to enforce the Arbitration Award against SGS in Hong Kong. The Company is consulting with its independent litigation counsel regarding this matter. However, as SGS does not have any material assets, properties or place of business in Hong Kong, the Company is of the view that this court order will have little or no immediate impact on its ongoing operations. On August 7, 2018, SGS received a letter from First Concept advising of the aggregate amount of costs and disbursements that First Concept claims it has incurred in connection with the arbitration proceeding. The Company is consulting with its independent litigation counsel regarding this matter.

The Company is currently considering and reviewing its options with respect to the Arbitration Award, including exploring ways to work with First Concept on payment arrangements that are practical to and are in best interests of both parties; however, there can be no assurance that a favorable outcome will be reached.

In the event that First Concept applies to enforce the Arbitration Award against SGS through judicial measures in courts of Mongolia or any other jurisdiction in which SGS has assets or properties, the Company intends to take appropriate steps to respond to such enforcement proceedings in the best interests of the Company through independent litigation counsel which has been retained by the Company for this purpose. However, due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, it is not possible to predict whether the Company will be successful in defending itself against any such enforcement proceedings.

If First Concept is successful in enforcing the Arbitration Award against SGS, the Company may not be able to re-pay the sum of $11.5 million and the associated interest. In such case, this will represent an event of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture and CIC would have another basis to declare the full principal and accrued interest owing thereunder immediately due and payable. Such an event of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture or the Company’s inability to re-pay the sum of $11.5 million and associated interest to First Concept could result in voluntary or involuntary proceedings involving the Company (including bankruptcy).

Ovoot Tolgoi Mine Impairment Analysis

The Company determined that an indicator of impairment existed for its Ovoot Tolgoi Mine cash generating unit as at June 30, 2018. The impairment indicator was the uncertainty of future coal prices in China.

Therefore, the Company conducted an impairment test whereby the carrying value of the Company’s Ovoot Tolgoi Mine cash generating unit was compared to its “fair value less costs of disposal” using a discounted future cash flow valuation model. The Company’s cash flow valuation model takes into consideration the latest available information to the Company, including but not limited to, sales price, sales volumes and washing assumptions, operating cost and life of mine coal production assumptions as at June 30, 2018. The Company’s Ovoot Tolgoi Mine cash generating unit carrying value was $78.2 million as at June 30, 2018.

Key estimates and assumptions incorporated in the valuation model included the following:

• Coal resources and reserves as estimated by an independent third party engineering firm;
• Sales price estimates from an independent market consulting firm;
• Forecasted sales volumes in line with production levels as per the mine plan;
• Life-of-mine coal production, strip ratio, capital costs and operating costs;
• Coal processing to increase the grade and qualities of the thermal coal produced and sold; and
• A post-tax discount rate of 12.9% based on an analysis of the market, country and asset
  specific factors.

The impairment analysis did not result in the identification of an impairment loss or an impairment reversal and no charge or reversal was required as at June 30, 2018. The Company believes that the estimates and assumptions incorporated in the impairment analysis are reasonable; however, the estimates and assumptions are subject to significant uncertainties and judgments.

REGULATORY ISSUES AND CONTINGENCIES

Class Action Lawsuit

In January 2014, Siskinds LLP, a Canadian law firm, filed a class action (the “Class Action”) against the Company, certain of its former senior officers and directors, and its former auditors, Deloitte LLP, in the Ontario Court in relation to the Company’s restatement of certain financial statements previously disclosed in the Company’s public fillings (the “Restatement”).

To commence and proceed with the Class Action, the plaintiff was required to bring a preliminary leave motion and to certify the Class Action as a class proceeding (the “Leave Motion”). The Ontario Court rendered its decision on the Leave Motion on November 5, 2015 and dismissed the plaintiff’s Leave Motion as against each of the former senior officers and directors of the Company named in the Class Action on the basis that the “large volume of compelling evidence” proved the defense of reasonable investigation on the balance of probabilities and provided the basis for dismissing the Leave Motion as against them.

However, the Ontario Court allowed the Class Action to proceed under Part XXIII.1 of the Ontario Securities Act, permitting the plaintiff to commence and proceed with an action against the Company in respect of alleged misrepresentations affecting trades in the secondary market for the Company’s securities arising from the Restatement. The Company appealed this portion of the decision of the Ontario Court (the “Corporation Appeal”).

The plaintiff appealed that part of the November 5, 2015 Ontario Court decision dismissing the action against former officers and directors of the Company (the “Individual’s Appeal”). The Individual's Appeal was brought as of right to the Ontario Court of Appeal.

On September 18, 2017, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed the Corporation Appeal of the original Ontario lower court decision to permit the plaintiff to commence and proceed with the Class Action. Concurrently, the Ontario Court of Appeal allowed the Individual’s Appeal of the original Ontario lower court decision to dismiss the plaintiff’s leave motion against certain of the Company’s former officers and directors and made an order granting leave for the plaintiff to proceed against such former officers and directors of the Company in relation to the Restatement. As a result, the plaintiff is now permitted to proceed with the Class Action against both the Company and the former officers and directors.

The Company filed an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in November 2017. The leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was dismissed in June 2018.

Counsel for the parties are appearing in a case conference before the motions judge on September 3, 2018 to fix the process and timing leading up to the trial of the action, which trial date has not yet been fixed.

The Company firmly believes that it has a strong defense on the merits and will continue to vigorously defend itself against the Class Action through independent Canadian litigation counsel retained by the Company for this purpose. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, it is not possible to predict the final outcome of the Class Action or determine the amount of potential losses, if any. However, the Company has judged a provision for this matter as at June 30, 2018 was not required.

Toll Wash Plant Agreement with Ejin Jinda

In 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with Ejin Jinda, a subsidiary of China Mongolia Coal Co. Ltd. to toll-wash coals from the Ovoot Tolgoi Mine. The agreement had a duration of five years from commencement of the contract and provided for an annual wet washing capacity of approximately 3.5 million tonnes of input coal.

Under the original agreement with Ejin Jinda, which required the commercial operation of the wet washing facility to commence on October 1, 2011, the additional fees payable by the Company under the wet washing contract would have been $18.5 million. At each reporting date, the Company assesses the agreement with Ejin Jinda and has determined it is not probable that these $18.5 million will be required to be paid. Accordingly, the Company has determined a provision for this matter as at June 30, 2018 was not required.

Special Needs Territory in Umnugobi

On February 13, 2015, the entire Soumber mining license and a portion of SGS' exploration license 9443X (9443X was converted to mining license MV-020436 in January 2016) (the “License Areas”) were included into a special protected area (to be further referred as Special Needs Territory, the “SNT”) newly set up by the Umnugobi Aimag’s Civil Representatives Khural (the “CRKh”) to establish a strict regime on the protection of natural environment and prohibit mining activities in the territory of the SNT.

On July 8, 2015, SGS and the Chairman of the CRKh, in his capacity as the respondent’s representative, reached an agreement (the “Amicable Resolution Agreement”) to exclude the License Areas from the territory of the SNT in full, subject to confirmation of the Amicable Resolution Agreement by the session of the CRKh. The parties formally submitted the Amicable Resolution Agreement to the appointed judge of the Administrative Court for her approval and requested a dismissal of the case in accordance with the Law of Mongolia on Administrative Court Procedure. On July 10, 2015, the judge issued her order approving the Amicable Resolution Agreement and dismissing the case, while reaffirming the obligation of CRKh to take necessary actions at its next session to exclude the License Areas from the SNT and register the new map of the SNT with the relevant authorities. Mining activities at the Soumber property cannot proceed until the License Areas are removed from the SNT.

On June 29, 2016, the Mongolian Parliament and CRKh election was held. As a result, the Company was aware that additional action may be taken in respect of the SNT; however, the Company has not yet received any indication on the timing of the next session of the CRKh.

Mongolian royalties

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company has been ordered by the Mongolian tax authority to apply “reference price” determined by the Government of Mongolia as opposed to calculated sales price that derived based on the actual contract price. Although no official letter was received by the Company as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that the Government of Mongolia will not disagree with the methodology employed by the Company in determining the calculated sales price and deem such price “non-market” under Mongolian tax law.

Management believes that its interpretation of the relevant legislation is appropriate and the Company’s positions related to royalty will be sustained. As of June 30, 2018, recognition of a provision for addition Mongolian royalties is not necessary.

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

On August 2, 2011, the State Property Committee of Mongolia awarded the tender to construct a paved highway from the Ovoot Tolgoi Mine to the Shivee Khuren Border Crossing (the “Paved Highway”) to consortium partners NTB LLC and SGS (together referred to as “RDCC LLC”). The Company has an indirect 40% interest in RDCC LLC through its Mongolian subsidiary SGS.

On October 26, 2011, RDCC LLC signed a concession agreement with the State Property Committee of Mongolia. RDCC LLC has the right to conclude a 17-year build, operate and transfer agreement under the Mongolian Law on Concessions.

On May 8, 2015, the commercial operation of the Paved Highway commenced. The Paved Highway has significantly increased the safety of coal transportation, reduced environmental impacts and improved efficiency and capacity of coal transportation. The toll rate was set at MNT 900 per tonne of coal (subsequently increased) as compared to MNT 1,500 per tonne of coal as stated in the signed concession agreement between RDCC LLC and the State Property Committee of Mongolia.

On September 17, 2015, the Invest Mongolia Agency signed an amendment to the concession agreement with RDCC LLC to extend the exclusive right of ownership to 30 years.

On February 4, 2017, the Board of RDCC LLC increased the toll rate from MNT 900 per tonne of coal to MNT 1,200, effective from March 1, 2017.

On April 26, 2018, the Board of RDCC LLC increased the toll rate from MNT 1,200 per tonne of coal to MNT 1,500, effective from June 1, 2018.

The Paved Highway has a carrying capacity in excess of 20 million tonnes of coal per year.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, RDCC LLC recognized toll fee revenue of $2.5 million (2017: $2.0 million) and $4.1 million (2017: $3.1 million), respectively.

PLEDGE OF ASSETS

As at June 30, 2018, certain of the Company’s property, plant and equipment of $9.5 million (December 31, 2017 $4.5 million) were pledged as security for a bank loan granted to the Company. As at June 30, 2018, certain of the Company’s mobile equipment of $0.2 million (December 31, 2017: $0.7 million) were held under finance leases.

PURCHASE, SALE OR REDEMPTION OF LISTED SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company did not redeem its listed securities, nor did the Company or any of its subsidiaries purchase or sell such securities during the six months ended June 30, 2018.

COMPLIANCE WITH CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Company has, throughout the six months ended June 30, 2018, applied the principles and complied with the requirements of its corporate governance practices as defined by the Board and all applicable statutory, regulatory and stock exchange listings standards, which include the code provisions set out in the Corporate Governance Code (the “Corporate Governance Code”) contained in Appendix 14 to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange” and the “Hong Kong Listing Rules”, respectively), except for the following:

Pursuant to code provision A.2.7 of the Corporate Governance Code, the chairman of the board should at least annually hold meetings with the non-executive directors (including independent non-executive directors) without the executive directors present. The Company does not have a Chairman since the conclusion of the AGM held on June 30, 2017. There was one meeting between the Interim Independent Lead Director, who is fulfilling the duties of the Chairman, and the non-executive directors without the presence of other executive directors held during the period from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018. The opportunity for such communication channel would be offered at the end of the Board meetings annually going forward.

SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS BY DIRECTORS

The Company has adopted policies regarding Directors’ securities transactions in its Corporate Disclosure, Confidentiality and Securities Trading Policy that have terms that are no less exacting than those set out in the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Issuers contained in Appendix 10 to the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

In response to a specific enquiry made by the Company on each of the directors, all directors, except the former director Mr. Aminbuhe who was not able to confirm because of his current situation, confirmed that they had complied with the required standards as set out in the Model Code and the Company’s Corporate Disclosure, Confidentiality and Securities Trading Policy throughout the six months ended June 30, 2018.

OUTLOOK

With the implementation of the “One Belt, One Road” program in China, the Company is well positioned to capture the resulting business opportunities between the two countries given the potential strategic support from its largest shareholders (CIC and Cinda), which are both state-owned-enterprises in China, and its strong operational record for the past ten years in Mongolia, being one of the largest enterprises in the country.

Assuming the successful launching of the Company’s processing facilities in the coming months, the Company expects to produce and sell higher volumes of higher-quality coal products to the Chinese market at improved margins. The Company will continue to strive for revenue growth by expanding its customer base further inland into China.

Looking forward, the Company remains cautiously optimistic regarding the Chinese coal market.

The Company continues to make efforts to strengthen cost management to ensure operating efficiency.

The Company remains well positioned in the market, with a number of key competitive strengths, including:

• Bridge between Mongolia and China – The Company is well positioned to capture the resulting business opportunities between the two countries given the potential strategic support from its largest shareholders (CIC and Cinda), which are both state-owned-enterprises in China, and its strong operational record for the past ten years in Mongolia, being one of the largest enterprises in the country.
  
• Strategic location – The Ovoot Tolgoi Mine is located approximately 40km from China, which represents the Company’s main coal market. The Company has an infrastructure advantage, being approximately 50km from a major Chinese coal distribution terminal with rail connections to key coal markets in China.
  
• A large resources and reserves base – As a result of work performed by Dragon Mining Consulting Limited for the Ovoot Tolgoi Deposit, the Company’s aggregate coal resources include measured and indicated mineral resources of 194.6 million tonnes and inferred resources of 32.1 million tonnes while 114.1 million tonnes were declared as mineral reserves.
  
• Several growth options – The Company has several growth options including the Soumber Deposit and Zag Suuj Deposit, located approximately 20km east and approximately 150km east of the Ovoot Tolgoi Mine, respectively.

Objectives

The Company’s objectives for 2018 and the medium term are as follows:

• Enhance product mix – The Company is committed to enhancing the product quality by completing the commissioning of the new wash plant which would enable the processing of lower grade coal into higher margin products on a larger scale.
  
• Expand customer base – The Company aims to strengthen its sales and logistics capabilities to expand the customer base further inland in China.
  
• Optimize cost structure – The Company is focused on further cost reduction by improving productivity and operational efficiency with the engagement of third party contract mining companies while maintaining product quality and the sustainability of production. Meanwhile, the Company is expecting there will be a significant level of stripping work to be performed at the Sunrise pit in the upcoming months to ensure a sustainable coal production over the mine life. In order to finance the stripping work, the Company will reduce the production level while utilizing the existing balance of inventory to meet the sales target.
  
• Progress growth options – Subject to available financial resources, the Company plans to further the development of the Soumber Deposit, while complying with all government requirements in relation to its licenses and agreements.
  
• Operate in a socially responsible manner – The Company is focused on maintaining the highest standards in health, safety and environmental performance.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Cash Costs

The Company uses cash costs to describe its cash production and associated cash costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present locations and conditions. Cash costs incorporate all production costs, which include direct and indirect costs of production, with the exception of idled mine asset costs and non-cash expenses which are excluded. Non-cash expenses include share-based compensation expense, impairments of coal stockpile inventories, depreciation and depletion of property, plant and equipment and mineral properties. The Company uses this performance measure to monitor its operating cash costs internally and believes this measure provides investors and analysts with useful information about the Company’s underlying cash costs of operations. The Company believes that conventional measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS do not fully illustrate the ability of its mining operations to generate cash flows. The Company reports cash costs on a sales basis. This performance measure is commonly utilized in the mining industry.

Summarized Comprehensive Income Information
(Expressed in thousands of USD, except for share and per share amounts)

Summarized Financial Position Information
(Expressed in thousands of USD)

SELECTED INFORMATION FROM THE NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Additional information required by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and not disclosed elsewhere in this press release is as follows. All amounts are expressed in thousands of USD and shares in thousands, unless otherwise indicated.

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION

1.1 Corporate information and liquidity

The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which assumes that the Company will continue operating until at least June 30, 2019 and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of operations as they come due. However, in order to continue as a going concern, the Company must generate sufficient operating cash flows, secure additional capital or otherwise pursue a strategic restructuring, refinancing or other transactions to provide it with additional liquidity.

Several adverse conditions and material uncertainties cast significant doubt upon the going concern assumption. The Company had a working capital deficiency (excess current liabilities over current assets) of $202,902 as at June 30, 2018 compared to $166,321 of working capital deficiency as at December 31, 2017. Included in the working capital deficiency at June 30, 2018 are significant obligations, which include the June 2017 Deferral Agreement in which the Company was required to pay the June 2017 Deferral Agreement Payment. In addition, pursuant to the terms of CIC Convertible Debenture, the Company was required to pay the November 19^th and May 19^th Payments. The Company is in discussion with CIC for a deferral of the November 19^th and May 19^th Payments; however, there can be no assurance that a favorable outcome will be reached. Accordingly the principal amount outstanding and all accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts owing under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the June 2017 Deferral Agreement would immediately become due and payable in the event that CIC provides notice to the Company.

Pursuant to the Arbitration Award, with respect to an the commercial arbitration on January 10, 2018 involving SGS and First Concept, SGS has been ordered to repay the sum of $11,500 to First Concept, together with accrued interest at a simple interest rate of 6% per annum from the date which the prepayment was made until the date of the Arbitration Award, and then at a simple interest rate of 8% per annum until full payment. On March 23, 2018, SGS received a notice from First Concept demanding payment of the full amount of the Arbitration Award, together with the accrued interest thereon, by no later than March 30, 2018, otherwise First Concept intends to commence enforcement proceedings against SGS in respect of the Arbitration Award. On May 10, 2018, SGS received a notice from First Concept advising that First Concept has obtained a court order dated April 27, 2018 from the High Court of Hong Kong granting leave to First Concept to enforce the Arbitration Award against SGS in Hong Kong. The Company is consulting with its independent litigation counsel regarding this matter. However, as SGS does not have any material assets, properties or place of business in Hong Kong, the Company is of the view that this court order will have little or no immediate impact on its ongoing operations. In the event that First Concept applies to enforce the Arbitration Award against SGS through judicial measures in courts of Mongolia or any other jurisdiction in which SGS has assets or properties, the Company intends to take appropriate steps to respond to such enforcement proceedings in the best interests of the Company through independent litigation counsel which has been retained by the Company for this purpose. If First Concept is successful in enforcing the Arbitration Award, the Company may not be able to re-pay the sum of $11,500 and the associated interest. In such case, this will represent another event of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture and CIC would have another basis to declare the full principal and accrued interest owing thereunder immediately due and payable. Such an event of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture or the Company’s inability to re-pay the sum of $11,500 and associated interest to First Concept could result in voluntary or involuntary proceedings involving the Company (including bankruptcy).

The Company also has other current liabilities, which require settlement in the short-term, including: the $1,318 undiscounted balance of the TRQ Loan and the principal amount of equipment loan of $2,279 and interest due in August 2018; and $18,942 of unpaid taxes payable by SGS to the Mongolian government.

Further, the trade and other payables of the Company continue to accumulate due to liquidity constraints. The aging profile of the trade and other payables has worsened as compared to that as at December 31, 2017, as follows:

The Company may not be able to settle all trade and other payables on a timely basis, while continuing postponement in settling the trade payables may impact the mining operations of the Company and result in potential lawsuits and/or bankruptcy proceedings being filed against the Company. No such lawsuits or proceedings are pending as at August 14, 2018.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company initiated a plan to change the existing product mix to higher value and higher margin outputs by washing certain grades of coal in order to produce more premium semi-soft coking coal and to initiate more processing of the lower grades of coal in order to reduce the ash content and improve the selling price and margins on its thermal coal product. The construction of the wash plant was substantially completed in 2017, however commencement of washing has been delayed to the fourth quarter of 2018.

The current mine plan incorporates the coal washing and processing systems and contemplates significantly higher volumes of production in order to complement the Company’s new product mix and sales volume targets. Such plans will require a significant level of stripping activities over the next two years and certain capital expenditures to achieve the designed production outputs. Such expenditures and other working capital requirements will require the Company to seek additional financing in the form of finance leases, debt or equity.

There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to successfully execute the measures mentioned above and secure other sources of financing. If it fails to do so, or is unable to secure additional capital or otherwise restructure or refinance its business in order to address its cash requirements through June 30, 2019, then the Company is unlikely to have sufficient capital resources or cash flows from mining operations in order to satisfy its current ongoing obligations and future contractual commitments. This could result in adjustments to the amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and such adjustments could be material.

Unless the Company acquires additional sources of financing and/or funding in the short term, the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is threatened. If the Company is unable to continue as a going concern, it may be forced to seek relief under applicable bankruptcy and insolvency legislation.

As of the date hereof, the Company is in default under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the TRQ Loan. Pursuant to the terms of the CIC Convertible Debenture, CIC may, in its discretion, provide notice to the Company and declare all principal, interest and other amounts owing under the CIC Convertible Debenture immediately due and payable, and take steps to enforce payment thereof. Pursuant to the terms of the TRQ Loan, all of the outstanding obligations under the TRQ Loan are immediately due and payable to Turquoise Hill as of the date hereof. As of the date hereof, the Company has received no indication from CIC of any intention to deliver a notice of default under the CIC Convertible Debenture or to accelerate the amounts outstanding under the CIC Convertible Debenture, and has not received any indication from Turquoise Hill of any intention to deliver a notice of default under the TRQ Loan.

Furthermore, continuing delay in securing additional financing could ultimately result in an event of default of the equipment loan, which if not cured within cure periods in accordance with the terms of equipment loan, may result in the principal amounts owing and all accrued and unpaid interest becoming immediately due and payable upon notice to the Company by the lender of the equipment loan.

Factors that impact the Company’s liquidity are being closely monitored and include, but are not limited to, Chinese economic growth, market prices of coal, production levels, operating cash costs, capital costs, exchange rates of currencies of countries where the Company operates and exploration and discretionary expenditures.

As at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company was not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.

1.2 Statement of compliance

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements, including comparatives, have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard (“IAS”) 34 - “Interim Financial Reporting” using accounting policies in compliance with the IFRS issued by the IASB and Interpretations of the IFRS Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”).

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were approved and authorized for issue by the Board of Directors of the Company on August 14, 2018.

1.3 Basis of presentation

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared using accounting policies and methods of computation consistent with those applied in the Company’s March 31, 2018 condensed consolidated interim financial statements. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements do not include all the information and note disclosures required by IFRS for annual financial statements and therefore should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017.

1.4 Adoption of new and revised standards and interpretations

The following new IASB standard was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2018.

(i) Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018

IFRS 9, Financial Instruments (“IFRS 9”), addresses the classification, measurement and derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities, introduces new rules for hedge accounting and a new impairment model for financial assets. The Company adopted IFRS 9 on a retrospective basis without restating prior period comparatives.

IFRS 9 requires financial assets to be classified as measured at fair value through profit and loss (FVTPL), fair value through other comprehensive income/loss (FVTOCI), and those measured at amortized cost. As a result of the adoption of this standard, the Company has changed its accounting policy for financial assets. The change did not impact the carrying value of any financial assets on the transition date, January 1, 2018. The Company’s cash and trade and other receivables, and notes receivables, were reclassified from loans and receivable to amortized cost.

For financial liabilities, the standard retains most of the IAS 39 requirements except when there is a modification of the terms of any financial liability, non-substantial modifications do not result in derecognition. IFRS 9 requires the Company to recalculate the amortized cost of the modified financial liability by discounting the modified contractual cash flows using the original effective interest rate and recognizing any adjustment in profit or loss. The Company has had several past modifications of its CIC Convertible Debenture and the TRQ Loan. Therefore, on initial application of IFRS 9, due to the modification of the financial liabilities, $1,332 was recorded to increase the opening accumulated deficit and increase the carrying value of the financial liabilities upon the application of the transitional relief.

Additionally, the new impairment model requires the recognition of impairment provisions based on expected credit losses (“ECL”) rather than only incurred credit losses as is the case under IAS 39. It applies to financial assets classified at amortized cost. The ECL model requires judgement as to how changes in economic factors affect ECLs, which are determined on a probability-weighted basis. The Company applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses on its trade receivables and estimates expected credit loss based on the possible default events on its trade and other receivables within the next twelve months. The Company has determined that, due to the unsecured nature of its trade and other receivables and notes receivables, the loss allowance on its trade and other receivables and notes receivables increased by $9,279 and $7,705 during the period ended June 30, 2018, respectively, relating to an expected loss rate of 10% for trade and notes receivables 60 days past due and 100% for trade and notes receivables 180 days past due.

IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“IFRS 15”), deals with revenue recognition and establishes principles for reporting useful information to users of financial statements about the nature, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. Revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of a good or service and thus has the ability to direct the use and obtain the benefits from the good or service. The standard replaces IAS 18 Revenue and IAS 11 Construction Contracts, and related interpretations.

The Company has concluded there were no significant changes in the accounting for sales as a result of the transition to IFRS 15. The Company produces coal products and the relevant performance obligations relate primarily to the delivery of the coal products to customers, with each delivery representing a separate performance obligation.

Revenue from the sale of coal product is recognized at the point the customer obtains control of the product, in which the significant risks and rewards of ownership pass to the buyer and the Company has a present right to payment for the product.

There have been no other new IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that is not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the Company, except those disclosed in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017.

2. SEGMENTED INFORMATION

The Company’s one reportable operating segment is its Coal Division. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer (chief operating decision maker) reviews the Coal Division’s discrete financial information in order to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and to assess its performance. The division is principally engaged in coal mining, development and exploration in Mongolia. The Company’s Corporate Division does not earn revenues and therefore does not meet the definition of an operating segment.

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Coal Division had 16 active customers with the largest customer accounting for 20% of revenues, the second largest customer accounting for 15% of revenues, the third largest customer accounting for 12% of revenues and the other customers accounting for the remaining 53% of revenues.

The carrying amounts of the Company’s assets, liabilities, reported income or loss and revenues analyzed by operating segment are as follows:

(i) The unallocated amount contains all amounts associated with the Corporate Division.
(ii) The impairment charges on assets for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 relate to trade and other receivables, notes receivables and prepaid expenses and deposits.
(iii) The impairment charge on assets for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 related to trade and other receivables, properties for resale and inventories.

The operations of the Company are primarily located in Mongolia, Hong Kong, Canada and China.

(i) The revenue information above is based on the locations of the customers.

3. REVENUE

Revenue represents the net invoiced value of goods sold which arises from the trading of coal.

4. EXPENSES BY NATURE

The Company’s expenses by nature are summarized as follows:

5. COST OF SALES

The Company’s cost of sales consists of the following amounts:

(i) Cost of sales related to idled mine assets were all related to the depreciation expense for the Company’s idled plant and equipment.

Cost of inventories recognized as expense in cost of sales for the three months ended June 30, 2018 totaled $9,956 (2017: $28,290). Cost of inventories recognized as expense in cost of sales for the six months ended June 30, 2018 totaled $21,804 (2017: $44,534).

6. OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES

The Company’s other operating expenses consist of the following amounts:

7. FINANCE COSTS AND INCOME

The Company’s finance costs consist of the following amounts:

8. TAXES

The Canadian statutory tax rate was 26% (2017: 26%) on the estimated assessable profits arising in Canada during the period. Taxes on profits assessable elsewhere have been calculated at the rates of tax prevailing in the countries/jurisdictions in which the Company operates.

9. LOSS PER SHARE

The calculation of basic loss and diluted loss per share is based on the following data:

Potentially dilutive items not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 include the convertible debenture and stock options that were anti-dilutive.

10. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

The Company’s trade and other receivables consist of the following amounts:

Trade receivables are normally paid within 6 months from the date of billing. Overdue balances are reviewed regularly by senior management. The Company does not hold any collateral or other credit enhancements over its trade and other receivable balances.

The Company made a provision of $9,279 on its trade and other receivables for the six months ended June 30, 2018 (2017: $1,335). As at June 30, 2018, the provision for doubtful trade and other receivables amounted to $9,964 (December 31, 2017: $697).

11. TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Trade and other payables of the Company primarily consists of amounts outstanding for trade purchases relating to coal mining, development and exploration activities and mining royalties payable. The usual credit period taken for trade purchases is between 30 to 90 days.

The aging of the Company’s trade and other payables, based on the invoice date, was as follows:

13. ACCUMULATED DEFICIT AND DIVIDENDS

As at June 30, 2018, the Company has accumulated a deficit of $1,167,204 (December 31, 2017: $1,135,809). No dividends have been paid or declared by the Company since inception.

REVIEW OF INTERIM RESULTS

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, which are unaudited but have been reviewed by the Company’s independent auditor and the Audit Committee of the Company.

The Company’s results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 are contained in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”), available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and the Company’s website at www.southgobi.com.

ABOUT SOUTHGOBI

SouthGobi, listed on the Toronto and Hong Kong stock exchanges, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. It also holds the mining licences of its other metallurgical and thermal coal deposits in South Gobi Region of Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China.

Except for statements of fact relating to SouthGobi Resources Ltd. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, "could", "should", "seek", "likely", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. Forward-looking statements relate to management’s future outlook and anticipated events or results and are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the times the statements are made. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding:

• the Company continuing as a going concern and its ability to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of operations as they become due; adjustments to the amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities in the Company's consolidated financial statements and the impact thereof;
• the Company’s expectations of sufficient liquidity and capital resources to meet its ongoing obligations and future contractual commitments, including the Company’s ability to settle its trade payables, to secure additional funding and to meet its obligations under each of the CIC Convertible Debenture, the TRQ Loan, the equipment loan and the Bank Loan, as the same become due;
• the Company's anticipated financing needs, development plans and future production levels;
• the Company successfully negotiating a deferral of the November 19^th and May 19^th Payments and the November 2017 PIK Interest under the June 2017 Deferral Agreement and CIC Convertible Debenture;
• the potential of the Company agreeing with First Concept on payment arrangements in respect of the Arbitration Award that are practical to and are in the best interest of the Company;
• the ability of the Company to successfully respond to any enforcement proceeding brought by First Concept in respect of the Arbitration Award;
• the ability of the Company to successfully negotiate a deferral of the amounts outstanding under the TRQ Loan and the May 2016 Deferral Agreement (as described under section “Liquidity and Capital Resources” under the heading entitled “Liquidity and Capital Management – Turquoise Hill Loan Facility”);
• the results and impact of the Ontario class action (as described under section “Regulatory Issues and Contingencies” under the heading entitled "Class Action Lawsuit");
• the estimates and assumptions included in the Company’s impairment analysis and the possible impact of changes thereof;
• the agreement with Ejin Jinda and the payments thereunder;
• the ability of the Company to successfully negotiate a new agreement with the third party contractor relating to the operation of the wash plant at the Ovoot Tolgoi mine site;
• the commencement of the washing facilities at Ovoot Tolgoi and the timing thereof;
• the ability to enhance the product value by conducting coal processing and coal washing;
• the impact of the Company’s activities on the environment and actions taken for the purpose of mitigation of potential environmental impacts and planned focus on health, safety and environmental performance;
• the Company’s outlook and objectives for 2018 and beyond (as more particularly described under section “Outlook”); and
• other statements that are not historical facts.

Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions described below and elsewhere in this press release, including, among other things: the current mine plan for the Ovoot Tolgoi mine; mining, production, construction and exploration activities at the Company’s mineral properties; the costs relating to anticipated capital expenditures; the capacity and future toll rate of the paved highway; plans for the progress of mining license application processes; mining methods; timing of the commencement of the washing facilities at Ovoot Tolgoi; the Company's anticipated business activities, planned expenditures and corporate strategies; management’s business outlook, including the outlook for 2018 and beyond; currency exchange rates; operating, labour and fuel costs; the anticipated royalties payable under Mongolia’s royalty regime; the future coal market conditions in China and the related impact on the Company’s margins and liquidity; future coal prices, and the level of worldwide coal production. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on the information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the uncertain nature of mining activities, actual capital and operating costs exceeding management’s estimates; variations in mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the possible impacts of changes in mine life, useful life or depreciation rates on depreciation expenses; risks associated with, or changes to regulatory requirements (including environmental regulations) and the ability to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals; the potential expansion of the list of licenses published by the Government of Mongolia covering areas in which exploration and mining are purportedly prohibited on certain of the Company's mining licenses; the Government of Mongolia designating any one or more of the Company’s mineral projects in Mongolia as a Mineral Deposit of Strategic Importance; continued delays in the customs clearance process at the Ceke border and risk of the Company being unable to produce and deliver coal of a quality which meets the standards of Chinese import regulations; the Company being in default under the CIC Convertible Debenture and the TRQ Loan, including the risk of CIC accelerating all amounts outstanding under the CIC Convertible Debenture and enforcing payment thereof, and the risk of Turquoise Hill demanding immediate payment of all amounts outstanding under the TRQ Loan; the risk of the Company failing to successfully negotiate a deferral of the November 19^th and May 19^th Payments and the November 2017 PIK Interest under the June 2017 Deferral Agreement and CIC Convertible Debenture; the possible impact of changes to the inputs to the valuation model used to value the embedded derivatives in the CIC Convertible Debenture; the risk of the Company failing to successfully negotiate a deferral of the amounts outstanding under the TRQ Loan and the May 2016 Deferral Agreement (as described under section “Liquidity and Capital Resources” under the heading entitled “Liquidity and Capital Management –Turquoise Hill Loan Facility”) ; the risk of the Company defaulting under its existing debt obligations, including the equipment loan and the Bank Loan; the impact of amendments to, or the application of, the laws of Mongolia, China and other countries in which the Company carries on business; modifications to existing practices so as to comply with any future permit conditions that may be imposed by regulators; delays in obtaining approvals and lease renewals; the risk of fluctuations in coal prices and changes in China and world economic conditions; the risk of the Company being unable to agree with First Concept on payment arrangements in respect of the Arbitration Award; risk that First Concept is successful in enforcing the Arbitration Award against SGS through judicial measures in courts of Mongolia or in other applicable jurisdiction(s) and the ability of the Company to successfully defend itself against such enforcement proceedings; the outcome of the Class Action (as described under section “Regulatory Issues and Contingencies” under the heading entitled "Class Action Lawsuit") and any damages payable by the Company as a result; the result of the internal investigation conducted by the Special Committee and the potential impact of the charges against Mr. Aminbuhe and the connection, if any, between those charges and the Company and his conduct as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; the risk that the calculated sales price determined by the Company for the purposes determining of the amount of royalties payable to the Mongolian government is deemed as being “non-market” under Mongolian tax law; customer credit risk; cash flow and liquidity risks; risks relating to the development of the Ceke Logistics Park project, including the risk that its investment partner may not comply with the underlying agreements governing project development and may fail to meet its obligations to the Company or third parties; risk of the Company failing to successfully negotiate a new agreement with the third party contractor relating to the operation of the wash plant at the Ovoot Tolgoi mine site on terms which are favorable to the Company; the risk of SGS failing to make payment to the Mongolian government for any outstanding taxes, royalties and other government levies as such amounts become due, which may result in the relevant Mongolian authority taking enforcement actions against SGS to collect the overdue amounts; risks relating to timing of the commencement of the washing facilities at Ovoot Tolgoi, including identifying a reliable water source to permit operation of the washing facilities; risks relating to the Company’s ability to raise additional financing and to continue as a going concern. Please see the Company’s most recently filed Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2017, which is available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company and its operations. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements.

Due to assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the assumptions, risks and uncertainties identified above and elsewhere in this press release, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company uses forward-looking statements because it believes such statements provide useful information with respect to the currently expected future operations and financial performance of the Company, and cautions readers that the information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speaks only as of the date of this press release; they should not rely upon this information as of any other date.

The English text of this press release shall prevail over the Chinese text in case of inconsistencies.

Contact:

Investor Relations
Kino Fu
Office: +852 2156 7030
Email: kino.fu@southgobi.com 
Website: www.southgobi.com