Entrée Resources Wins Arbitration Decision

Rhea-AI Summary

Entrée Resources (TSX:ETG; OTCQB:ERLFF) has won a significant arbitration decision against Oyu Tolgoi (OTLLC) and Turquoise Hill Resources The three-member international arbitration Tribunal ruled in Entrée's favor on all issues and dismissed the Respondents' counterclaims. The Tribunal's binding declarations establish that OTLLC must: provide an executed Joint Venture Agreement (JVA), facilitate the transfer of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licenses, and cover Entrée's 20% share of taxes and fees as a loan under the JVA. The decision provides certainty for Oyu Tolgoi project stakeholders and supports keeping Lift 1 Panel 1 development work on schedule.

Positive

• Won arbitration case against joint venture partners on all issues
• Secured legal confirmation of OTLLC's obligation to execute Joint Venture Agreement
• Confirmed OTLLC must facilitate mining license transfers
• OTLLC required to cover Entrée's 20% share of transfer taxes and fees as a loan

Negative

• None.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Entrée Resources Ltd. (TSX:ETG; OTCQB:ERLFF – the “Company” or “Entrée”) is pleased to announce that today a partial final award (the “Award”) was made by the three-member international arbitration Tribunal appointed in connection with the Company’s binding arbitration proceedings against its joint venture partner Oyu Tolgoi LLC (“OTLLC”) and Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (together, the “Respondents”). The Tribunal has ruled in favor of Entrée on all issues and dismissed the Respondents’ counterclaims.

Stephen Scott, the Company’s President & CEO commented, “This Award represents a tremendous outcome for the Company and provides much needed certainty for all Oyu Tolgoi project stakeholders as we endeavor to keep Lift 1 Panel 1 development work on schedule.”

The Company commenced proceedings on May 26, 2022, to seek declarations and orders for specific performance relating to certain provisions of the amended 2004 Equity Participation and Earn-in Agreement (the “Earn-in Agreement”) and Joint Venture Agreement (the “JVA”) with OTLLC. The Tribunal issued final and binding declarations that:

• OTLLC is obligated to provide to Entrée an executed copy of the JVA, in the form appended to the Earn-in Agreement, subject only to any amendments to its terms that Entrée and OTLLC mutually agree;
• OTLLC is obligated to facilitate and accept the transfer of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licenses (the “Licenses”) for the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture as required by the JVA; and
• Any taxes and fees assessed on the transfer of the Licenses are subject to the terms of the JVA, with OTLLC contributing Entrée’s 20% share as a loan under Section 10.1 of the JVA.
  

The Tribunal also reserved Entrée’s claims for specific performance, and in the alternative equitable damages, and the issue of costs, to a subsequent award.

The Company is currently considering potential next steps and will update the market in due course.

ABOUT ENTRÉE RESOURCES LTD.

Entrée Resources Ltd. is a well-funded Canadian mining company with a unique carried joint venture interest on a significant portion of one of the world’s largest copper-gold projects – the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia. Entrée has a 20% or 30% carried participating interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture, depending on the depth of mineralization. Horizon Copper Corp. and Rio Tinto are major shareholders of Entrée, beneficially holding approximately 24% and 16% of the shares of the Company, respectively. More information about Entrée can be found at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com.

FURTHER INFORMATION

David Jan
Investor Relations
Entrée Resources Ltd.
Tel: 604-687-4777 | Toll Free: 1-866-368-7330
E-mail: djan@EntreeResourcesLtd.com

This News Release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws with respect to corporate strategies and plans; requirements for additional capital; uses of funds and projected expenditures; arbitration proceedings, including the potential benefits, timing and outcome of arbitration proceedings; the effect an arbitration decision may have on a commercial resolution of matters related to the JVA; the ability of the parties to reach a commercial resolution of matters related to the JVA; the Company’s ability to transfer the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences to OTLLC either in conjunction with finalization and execution of an alternative agreement(s) with OTLLC, or enforcement of certain provisions of the Earn-in Agreement and JVA pursuant to binding arbitration proceedings; timing and status of Oyu Tolgoi underground development; the expected timing of development work on the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence and the potential for delay if the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence cannot be transferred to OTLLC in a timely fashion; the nature of the ongoing relationship and interaction between OTLLC and Rio Tinto and the Government of Mongolia and Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC with respect to the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi; discussions with the Government of Mongolia, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Rio Tinto, and OTLLC on a range of issues including Entrée’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture property, the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences and certain material agreements; potential actions by the Government of Mongolia with respect to the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences and Entrée’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture property; plans for future exploration and/or development programs and budgets; permitting time lines; anticipated business activities; proposed acquisitions and dispositions of assets; and future financial performance.

In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budgeted", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". While the Company has based this forward-looking information on its expectations about future events as at the date that such information was prepared, the information is not a guarantee of Entrée’s future performance and is based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies; the correct interpretation of agreements, laws and regulations; the commencement and conclusion of arbitration proceedings, including the potential benefits, timing and outcome of arbitration proceedings; the potential benefits, timing and outcome of discussions with the Government of Mongolia, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, OTLLC, and Rio Tinto; the future ownership of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences; that the Company will continue to have timely access to detailed technical, financial, and operational information about the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture property, the Oyu Tolgoi project, and government relations to enable the Company to properly assess, act on, and disclose material risks and opportunities as they arise; local and global economic conditions and the environment in which Entrée will operate in the future, including commodity prices, projected grades, projected dilution, anticipated capital and operating costs, including inflationary pressures thereon resulting in cost escalation, and anticipated future production and cash flows; the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel boundaries; the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; the status of Entrée’s relationship and interaction with the Government of Mongolia, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, OTLLC, and Rio Tinto; and the Company’s ability to operate sustainably, its community relations, and its social licence to operate.

With respect to the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine, important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information include, amongst others, the current economic climate and the significant volatility, uncertainty and disruption arising in connection with the Ukraine conflict; the nature of the ongoing relationship and interaction between OTLLC, Rio Tinto, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC and the Government of Mongolia with respect to the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi; the continuation of undercutting in accordance with the mine plans and designs in OTFS23; applicable taxes and royalty rates; the future ownership of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences; the amount of any future funding gap to complete the Oyu Tolgoi project and the availability and amount of potential sources of additional funding; the timing and cost of the construction and expansion of mining and processing facilities; inflationary pressures on prices for critical supplies for Oyu Tolgoi resulting in cost escalation; the ability of OTLLC or the Government of Mongolia to deliver a domestic power source for Oyu Tolgoi (or the availability of financing for OTLLC or the Government of Mongolia to construct such a source) within the required contractual timeframe; sources of interim power; OTLLC’s ability to operate sustainably, its community relations, and its social licence to operate in Mongolia; the impact of changes in, changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practises in Mongolia; delays, and the costs which would result from delays, in the development of the underground mine; the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel boundaries; projected commodity prices and their market demand; and production estimates and the anticipated yearly production of copper, gold and silver at the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine.

Other risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of Entrée to differ materially from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information include, amongst others, unanticipated costs, expenses or liabilities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; development plans for processing resources; matters relating to proposed exploration or expansion; mining operational and development risks, including geotechnical risks and ground conditions; regulatory restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability); risks related to international operations, including legal and political risk in Mongolia; risks related to the potential impact of global or national health concerns; risks associated with changes in the attitudes of governments to foreign investment; risks associated with the conduct of joint ventures, including the ability to access detailed technical, financial and operational information; risks related to the Company’s significant shareholders, and whether they will exercise their rights or act in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the Company and its other shareholders; inability to upgrade Inferred mineral resources to Indicated or Measured mineral resources; inability to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves; conclusions of economic evaluations; fluctuations in commodity prices and demand; changing foreign exchange rates; the speculative nature of mineral exploration; the global economic climate; dilution; share price volatility; activities, actions or assessments by Rio Tinto or OTLLC and by government stakeholders or authorities including Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC and the Government of Mongolia; the availability of funding on reasonable terms; the impact of changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of laws, regulations and government practices, including laws, regulations and government practices with respect to mining, foreign investment, strategic deposits, royalties and taxation; the terms and timing of obtaining necessary environmental and other government approvals, consents and permits; the availability and cost of necessary items such as water, skilled labour, transportation and appropriate smelting and refining arrangements; unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes to assumptions as to the availability of electrical power, and the power rates used in operating cost estimates and financial analyses; changes to assumptions as to salvage values; ability to maintain the social licence to operate; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; global climate change; global conflicts; natural disasters; the impacts of civil unrest; the impacts of the Ukraine conflict; breaches of the Company’s policies, standards and procedures, laws or regulations; trade tensions between the world’s major economies; increasing societal and investor expectations, in particular with regard to environmental, social and governance considerations; the impacts of technological advancements; title disputes; limitations on insurance coverage; competition; loss of key employees; cyber security incidents; misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking information; and those factors discussed in the Company’s most recently filed MD&A and in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2023, dated March 8, 2024 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information except as required under applicable securities laws.

FAQ

What was the outcome of Entrée Resources (ERLFF) arbitration case against OTLLC?

The arbitration Tribunal ruled in favor of Entrée Resources on all issues and dismissed the counterclaims from OTLLC and Turquoise Hill Resources

What are the key obligations OTLLC must fulfill according to the ERLFF arbitration ruling?

OTLLC must provide an executed Joint Venture Agreement, facilitate the transfer of Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licenses, and cover Entrée's 20% share of transfer taxes and fees as a loan.

How does the arbitration decision affect ERLFF's Lift 1 Panel 1 development schedule?

The decision provides certainty for stakeholders and supports keeping the Lift 1 Panel 1 development work on schedule.

When did Entrée Resources (ERLFF) initiate the arbitration proceedings against OTLLC?

Entrée Resources commenced the arbitration proceedings on May 26, 2022.