Update ON Mongolia Tax Audit
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February 26, 2024
UPDATE ON MONGOLIA TAX AUDIT
VANCOUVER – SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SGQ, HK: 1878) (“SouthGobi” or the
“Company”) Reference is made to the announcements of the Company dated July 31, 2023
and August 18, 2023 (the “Announcements”) in relation to the Mongolia tax audit.
As previously disclosed in the Company’s Announcement, on July 18, 2023, the Company’s
wholly owned subsidiary in Mongolia, SouthGobi Sands LLC (“ SGS”), received a notice (the
“Notice”) from the Mongolian Tax Authority (the “ MTA”) relating to a periodic tax audit on
certain of SGS’s financial information between 2017 and 2020, including transfer pricing,
royalty, air pollution fee and unpaid tax payables (the “ Audit”). The MTA notified SGS that
they are imposing a tax penalty against SGS in the amount of approximately US$75.0 million
as a result of the Audit. On August 17, 2023, SGS filed an appeal letter in relation to the Audit
with the MTA in accordance with Mongolian laws.
On February 8, 2024, SGS received notice from the Tax Dispute Resolution Council (“TDRC”)
of the MTA which stated that, after the TDRC’s review, the TDRC issued a decision in relation
to SGS’s appeal of the Audit, and ordered that the audit assessments set forth in the Notice
of July 18, 2023 be suspended and sent back to the MTA for review and re-assessment.
On February 22, 2024, SGS received another notice from the MTA that the MTA anticipates
commencing the re-assessment process on or about March 7, 2024 and the duration of such
process will be approximately 45 working days.
The Company’s management is assessing the implications of the notices received from the
TDRC. Any decision of the MTA following the re-assessment process may not be conclusive
as the Company retains the right to appeal such decision under Mongolian laws. Therefore,
the actual time to resolve th e Audit may be extended. The Company will make further
announcement(s) to keep its shareholders and potential investors informed of any progress
as and when appropriate.
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Shareholders and potential investors of the Company are advised to exercise caution
when dealing in the shares of the Company.
About SouthGobi
SouthGobi, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange , 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.
Contact:
Investor Relations
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Ruibin Xu
Chief Executive Officer
Office: +1 604 762 6783 (Canada)
+852 2156 1438 (Hong Kong)
Website: www.southgobi.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is
defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.