SouthGobi Resources announces third quarter 2017 financial and operating results
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November 13, 2017
SouthGobi Resources announces third quarter 2017 financial
and operating results
VANCOUVER – SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX: SGQ, HK: 1878) (the “Company” or
“SouthGobi”) today announces its financial and operating results for the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2017. 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 September 30,
2017 and subsequent period up to November 13, 2017 are as follows:
• Operating Results – As a result of improved market conditions and prices for coal in
the People’s Republic of China (“China”), the Company experienced an increase in the
average selling price of coal from $15.79 per tonne for the third quarter of 2016 to $26.47
per tonne for the third quarter of 2017. However, as a result of delays in the custom
clearance process at the Ceke border which the Company has been experiencing since
July 2017, the volume of coal sales has dropped from 1.13 million tonnes for the third
quarter of 2016 to 0.80 million tonnes for the third quarter of 2017. As of the date of
this announcement, the situation has improved slightly and the Company continues to
closely monitor the situation at the Ceke border.
• Financial Results – The Company recorded a gross loss of $5.7 million during the
quarter compared to a gross loss of $5.6 million in the third quarter of 2016. Revenue
was $19.4 million in the third quarter of 2017 as compared to $16.4 million in the third
quarter of 2016. The financial results of the third quarter of 2017 are comparable to the
comparative 2016 quarter as a result of increased coal price due to improved market
conditions in China offset by decreased sales volume caused by delays in the custom
clearance process at the Ceke border experienced during the quarter.
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• CIC 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 Company is 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 is required pay $8.1 million of anniversary cash interest to CIC
on November 19, 2017 (the “November Interest Payment” and together with the June
2017 Deferral Agreement Payment, the “November 19 th Payments”). As of the date hereof,
the Company expects that it will be unable to pay the November 19 th Payments to CIC
on the due date. The Company is currently in discussions with CIC for a further deferral
of the November 19 th Payments; however, there can be no assurance that a favorable
outcome will be reached. If a further deferral of the November 19 th Payments cannot be
agreed to with CIC by November 19, 2017, then 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.
• Equipment Loan – Inner Mongolia SouthGobi Energy Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company
executed a $10 million loan agreement on August 31, 2017 with Beijing Jin Rui Tian
Chen Asset Management Co Ltd. (the “Equipment Loan”) for the purpose of financing
the purchase of mining equipment to increase the production capacity of the Company.
• Class Action Lawsuit – On September 18, 2017, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed
the Company’s appeal of the original Ontario lower court decision to permit the plaintiff
to commence and proceed with a class action (the “Class Action”) against the Company
claiming damages under the Ontario Securities Act in connection with the Company’s
restatement of certain financial statements previously disclosed in the Company’s public
fillings (the “Restatement”). Concurrently, the Ontario Court of Appeal allowed the
plaintiff’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 of the Company. The Company intends to seek leave to appeal
to the Supreme Court of Canada.
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• Ceke Logistics Park Project – On October 10, 2017, the Company entered into an
investment agreement (“Investment Agreement”) with Beijing De Rong Tai Investment
Co., Ltd. (“BDRT”) in connection with the Company’s development of the Ceke Port
Eco-friendly Bonded Logistics Park project (the “Ceke Logistics Park”). Pursuant to the
Investment Agreement, BDRT has agreed, subject to fulfilment of certain conditions, to
invest RMB231 million in instalments by July 30, 2018 in return for a 30% interest in
Inner Mongolia SouthGobi Enterprise Co. Ltd. (“IMSE”), while the Company will hold the
remaining 70% interest in IMSE. Proceeds from BDRT’s equity investment will be used
by IMSE for the construction of the Ceke Logistics Park. IMSE is the project company
which holds a 100% interest in the Ceke Logistics Park.
• Changes in Management and Director
Mr. Huiyi Wang : Mr. Wang resigned as a non-executive director on July 24, 2017.
Mr. Aminbuhe: Mr. Aminbuhe commenced a leave from his role as Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, effective as of November 13, 2017.
Mr. Bing Wang: Mr. Wang was appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, effective as of November 13, 2017.
• Going Concern – As at the date hereof, the Company has initiated a plan to change
the existing product mix to higher value and higher margin outputs by washing certain
grades of coal commencing in the fourth quarter of 2017 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 Company has also completed a new mine plan, which
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 involve the need for a significant level of
stripping activities over the next two years and require certain capital expenditures to
achieve the designed production outputs. Such expenditures will require the Company
to seek additional financing in the form of finance leases, debt or equity. The Company
has entered into an agreement for a finance lease on the new wash plant facility but
will need additional financing to complete the thermal coal processing facilities.
There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to successfully secure additional
sources of financing. This could result in adjustments to the amounts and classifications
of assets and liabilities in the Company’s condensed 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.
See section “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for details. As at November 13, 2017, the
Company had $1.9 million of cash.
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OVERVIEW OF OPERATIONAL DATA AND FINANCIAL RESULTS
Summary of Operational Data
Three months ended Nine months ended
September 30, September 30,
2017 2016 2017 2016
Sales Volumes, Prices and Costs
Premium semi-soft coking coal
Coal sales (millions of tonnes) 0.12 0.07 0.49 0.13
Average realized selling price (per tonne) (i) $ 46.81 $ 21.04 $ 45.93 $ 21.19
Standard semi-soft coking coal
Coal sales (millions of tonnes) 0.41 0.77 1.84 1.87
Average realized selling price (per tonne) (i) $ 28.32 $ 15.66 $ 25.89 $ 16.69
Thermal coal
Coal sales (millions of tonnes) 0.27 0.29 1.06 0.83
Average realized selling price (per tonne) (i) $ 14.54 $ 14.79 $ 14.77 $ 11.11
Total
Coal sales (millions of tonnes) 0.80 1.13 3.39 2.83
Average realized selling price (per tonne) (i) $ 26.47 $ 15.79 $ 25.29 $ 15.27
Raw coal production (millions of tonnes) 2.47 1.13 5.87 2.17
Cost of sales of product sold (per tonne) $ 31.31 $ 19.53 $ 22.48 $ 22.65
Direct cash costs of product sold (per tonne) (ii) $ 10.98 $ 7.13 $ 9.10 $ 8.92
Mine administration cash costs of product sold
(per tonne) (ii) $ 2.98 $ 2.26 $ 2.00 $ 1.96
Total cash costs of product sold (per tonne) (ii) $ 13.96 $ 9.39 $ 11.10 $ 10.88
Other Operational Data
Production waste material moved (millions of bank
cubic meters) 6.77 2.22 16.43 4.76
Strip ratio (bank cubic meters of waste material
per tonne of coal produced) 2.74 1.96 2.80 2.19
Lost time injury frequency rate (iii) 0.04 0.00 0.03 0.00
(i) Average realized selling price is presented before deduction of royalties and selling fees.
(ii) A Non-International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) financial measure, 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.
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Overview of Operational Data
For the third quarter of 2017, the Company had a lost time injury frequency rate of 0.04 per
200,000 man hours based on a rolling 12 month average.
For the three months ended September 30, 2017
As a result of improved market conditions and prices for coal in China, the Company
experienced an increase in the average selling price of coal as compared to the third quarter
of 2016. However the Company has been experiencing delays in the custom clearance process
at the Ceke border since July 2017, and these delays have caused the typical turnaround
time for the coal exporting trucks which transport coal from the Company’s mine site to the
Ceke border to take at least twice as long as normal. As a result, the volume of coal sales
has dropped as compared to the third quarter of 2016. The Company continues to closely
monitor the situation at the Ceke border.
The Company sold 0.8 million tonnes of coal product during the third quarter of 2017 as
compared to 1.13 million tonnes for the third quarter of 2016. The average realized selling
price increased from $15.79 per tonne for the third quarter of 2016 to $26.47 per tonne for
the third quarter of 2017, which was mainly a result of improved market conditions as well as
improved product mix. The product mix for the third quarter of 2017 consisted of approximately
15% of premium semi-soft coking coal, 51% of standard semi-soft coking coal and 34% of
thermal coal compared to approximately 7% of premium semi-soft coking coal, 68% of standard
semi-soft coking coal and 25% of thermal coal for the third quarter of 2016.
The Company also improved the pacing of production to meet the anticipated demand, such
that production was 2.47 million tonnes for the third quarter of 2017 as compared to 1.13
million tonnes for the third quarter of 2016.
The Company’s unit cost of sales of product sold increased to $31.31 per tonne in the third
quarter of 2017 from $19.53 per tonne in the third quarter of 2016. The increase was mainly
driven by the coal stockpile impairments of $7.9 million during the quarter as compared to
$1.5 million for the third quarter of 2016.
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For the nine months ended September 30, 2017
Despite the delay in the custom clearance process at the Ceke border as mentioned above,
the overall market conditions and prices for coal generally have improved in China in 2017.
The Company experienced an increase in the tonnage of coal product sold from 2.83 million
tonnes during the first nine months of 2016 to 3.39 million tonnes for the first nine months
of 2017. The average selling price also increased from $15.27 per tonne for the first nine
months of 2016 to $25.29 per tonne for the first nine months of 2017, which was mainly due
to the improved market conditions.
Production in the first nine months of 2017 was higher than the first nine months of 2016,
increasing from 2.17 million tonnes to 5.87 million tonnes, as a result of pacing production
with the current and expected demand.
The Company’s unit cost of sales of product sold maintained at similar level for the first nine
months of 2017 of $22.48 as compared to $22.65 for the first nine months of 2016.
Summary of Financial Results
Three months ended Nine months ended
September 30, September 30,
$ in thousands, except per share information 2017 2016 2017 2016
Revenue (i),(ii) $ 19,356 $ 16,379 $ 79,275 $ 39,467
Cost of sales (ii) (25,049) (22,018) (76,193) (64,203)
Gross profit/(loss) excluding idled mine asset costs (3,528) (3,162) 10,631 (14,137)
Gross profit/(loss) including idled mine asset costs (5,693) (5,639) 3,082 (24,736)
Other operating income/(expenses) 3,477 4,631 (3,776) 3,732
Administration expenses (2,451) (2,042) (7,070) (5,510)
Evaluation and exploration expenses (48) (101) (221) (200)
Loss from operations (4,715) (3,151) (7,985) (26,714)
Finance costs (5,674) (6,358) (16,708) (16,910)
Finance income 142 5 21 8
Share of earnings of a joint venture 265 89 919 428
Income tax credit/(expense) 238 82 (2,521) (176)
Net loss (9,744) (9,333) (26,274) (43,364)
Basic and diluted loss per share $ (0.04) $ (0.04) $ (0.10) $ (0.17)
(i) Revenue is presented after the deduction of royalties and selling fees.
(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 interim financial statements
for further analysis regarding the Company’s reportable operating segments.
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Overview of Financial Results
For the three months ended September 30, 2017
The Company recorded a gross loss of $5.7 million during the quarter compared to a gross
loss of $5.6 million in the third quarter of 2016. The Company recorded a $4.7 million loss
from operations during the quarter compared to a $3.2 million loss from operations in the
third quarter of 2016. The operations for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were
impacted by delays experienced by the Company in the custom clearance process at the
Ceke border as mentioned above.
The Company earned revenue of $19.4 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $16.4
million in the third quarter of 2016.
The Company’s revenue is presented after deduction of royalties and selling fees. The
Company’s effective royalty rate for the third quarter of 2017, based on the Company’s
average realized selling price of $26.47 per tonne, was 6.1% or $1.63 per tonne compared
to 6.9% or $1.08 per tonne based on the average realized selling price of $15.79 per tonne
in the third quarter of 2016.
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, custom 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.
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Cost of sales was $25.0 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $22.0 million in
the third quarter of 2016, the increase was mainly due to the impairment of coal stockpile
inventories of $7.9 million that was recorded this quarter (2016: $1.5 million). 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 Measures” for further analysis)
during the period.
Three months ended
September 30,
$ in thousands 2017 2016
Operating expenses $ 11,165 $ 10,823
Share-based compensation expense 2 2
Depreciation and depletion 2,350 7,183
Impairment of coal stockpile inventories 7,933 1,533
Cost of sales from mine operations 21,450 19,541
Cost of sales related to idled mine assets 3,599 2,477
Cost of sales $ 25,049 $ 22,018
Cost of sales in the third quarter of 2017 and 2016 included coal stockpile impairments of
$7.9 million and $1.5 million, respectively, to reduce the carrying value of the Company’s
coal stockpiles to their net realizable value. The coal stockpile impairments recorded in both
the third quarter of 2017 and 2016 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 included mainly depreciation expense. Cost of sales related to
idled mine assets in the third quarter of 2017 included $3.6 million of depreciation expenses
for idled equipment compared to $2.5 million in the third quarter of 2016.