Khan wins $100-million (U.S.) in Dornod arbitration
2015-03-02 15:02 ET - News Release
Shares issued 75,363,148
KRI Close 2015-02-27 C$ 0.43
Mr. Grant Edey reports
KHAN ANNOUNCES US$100 MILLION INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION AWARD
An international arbitration tribunal constituted under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) arbitration rules has determined an award of approximately $100-million (U.S.) (including interest and costs) to Khan Resources Inc. The award is given as compensation to Khan for the government of Mongolia's actions in relation to the cancellation of Khan's uranium licences in 2009. The award is final and binding, and is now due from the government of Mongolia and Monatom LLC. If settlement is not forthcoming, the company will initiate collection procedures pursuant to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (1958), a multilateral treaty to which Mongolia is a signatory.
The award was rendered by an internationally respected tribunal, chaired by David A.R. Williams, Q.C. (New Zealand), and including L. Yves Fortier, Q.C. (Canada), and Bernard Hanotiau (Belgium). The arbitration was administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, located in the Hague, Netherlands. The international arbitration was initiated in January, 2011, pursuant to the founding agreement for the joint venture, the Energy Charter Treaty and the Foreign Investment Law of Mongolia. Hearings were held on jurisdictional matters at the International Chamber of Commerce Hearing Centre in Paris in May, 2012. The tribunal's decision on jurisdiction in July, 2012, dismissed all of Mongolia's objections to the continuance of the arbitral claim. As a consequence, a full hearing was held in November, 2013, again at the ICC Hearing Centre, on the merits of the claim and the damages suffered by Khan. Crowell & Moring LLP, skillfully led by Ian Laird, acted as counsel for Khan in the arbitration.
In respect of the merits of the claim, the tribunal agreed with virtually all of Khan's arguments and concluded that Mongolia had breached its obligations toward Khan under Mongolia's Foreign Investment Law. As a consequence, Mongolia had also breached the multilateral Energy Charter Treaty to which Mongolia is a signatory.
In determining the damages to Khan, the tribunal stated that the net present value approach used in Khan's feasibility study and the company's expert reports was not appropriate. The tribunal's determination of damages relied primarily on previous offers made for the Dornod asset, the most important of which the tribunal stated was the offer by CNNC to purchase Khan in February, 2010. As a result, the tribunal stated that the level of damages suffered at July, 2009 (the time of the expropriation) was limited to $80-million (U.S.), plus interest, from the time of the award until payment at London Interbank offered rate plus 2 per cent (compounded annually). The tribunal also made a full award of arbitration and counsel costs of $9.1-million (U.S.) in favour of Khan.
Grant Edey, president and chief executive officer of Khan, commented: "We are very pleased with the tribunal's ruling that the expropriation of the Dornod asset violated Mongolian law. A former Mongolian government illegally expropriated Khan's uranium property without any compensation, which is contrary to the rule of law. And while the current government of Mongolia has taken certain progressive action to diminish the harmful acts of former regimes, Western investors and governments will scrutinize the Mongolian government's action in this matter as the rule of law also dictates prompt payment of compensation. Khan intends to continue our vigorous pursuit of obtaining value for our shareholders."
The number of Khan shares on a fully diluted basis stands at 83.3 million or $1.20 (U.S.) per share. Using the March 2, 2015, U.S.-to-Canadian-dollar exchange rate of 1.2535, the award translates into approximately $1.50 per share.
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