Khan Launches Appeal in Armz Litigation
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 04/20/12 -- Khan Resources Inc. (TSX: KRI) ("Khan") announced today that it has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal for Ontario in relation to the March 9, 2012 decision of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that allowed an appeal by Atomredmetzoloto JSC ("ARMZ") and dismissed Khan's motion to validate, substitute or dispense with service of the Statement of Claim in Khan's $300 million lawsuit for damages against ARMZ. As set out in the Notice of Appeal filed with the Court of Appeal, Khan seeks to, among other things, restore a prior order of the Superior Court of Justice that validated service of the Statement of Claim on ARMZ.
Khan has been attempting to effect service on ARMZ since late 2010 in connection with its $300 million lawsuit against ARMZ. After following the necessary procedures in Russia to serve ARMZ, Khan's attempts at service were stymied when the Russian Ministry of Justice refused to effect service on ARMZ. The Russian Ministry of Justice cited Article 13 of the Hague Convention that provides that the State addressed may refuse to effect service "only if it deems that compliance would infringe its sovereignty or security". The Ministry of Justice provided no reason or explanation for why service would infringe Russian sovereignty or security. On October 31, 2011, Khan announced that it had obtained an order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice validating service on ARMZ which was appealed by ARMZ. On March 9, 2012, the appeal was allowed.
Mr. Grant Edey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Khan, commented, "It is grossly unfair that the Russian Government has been able to shield ARMZ from having to answer to a Canadian court for harm done to Khan and its shareholders based on alleged concerns about Russian sovereignty or security. This unfairness demands an appeal, and we intend to continue to vigorously defend our shareholders' rights and interests."
Forward-Looking Statements and Information
This press release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Forward-looking statements and information are characterized by words such as "will", "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "forecast", "schedule", "estimate" and similar expressions, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions and are inherently subject to significant business, social, economic, political, regulatory, competitive and other risks and uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, including the impact of international, Mongolian and Canadian laws, trade agreements and regulatory requirements on Khan's business, properties, licenses, operations and capital structure, Khan's ability to re-instate or re-register the Dornod uranium project licenses, regulatory uncertainty and obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals, legislative, political, social, regulatory and economic developments or changes in jurisdictions in which Khan carries on business, the nature and outcome of pending and future litigation, arbitration and other legal proceedings, the speculative nature of exploration and development, risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business, changes in market conditions, changes or disruptions in the securities markets and market fluctuations in prices for Khan securities, the existence of third parties interested in purchasing some or all of the common shares or Khan's assets, the method of funding and availability of any potential alternative strategic transactions involving Khan or its assets, including those transactions that may produce strategic value to shareholders, the need to obtain, maintain and/or re-register licenses and permits and comply with national and international laws, regulations, treaties or other similar requirements, and uncertainty in the estimation of mineral reserves and resources. In addition, a number of other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in such statements and information, and there is no assurance that actual results will be consistent with them. For further details, reference is made to the risk factors discussed or referred to in Khan's annual and interim management's discussion and analyses and Annual Information Form on file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such forward-looking statements and information are made or given as at the date of this news release, and Khan assumes no obligation to update or revise them, either publicly or otherwise, to reflect new events, information or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities law.
Contacts:
Investor Relations Contacts: Khan Resources Inc.
Grant Edey
President & CEO
Office: 416.360.3405
gedey@rogers.com
Khan Resources Inc.
Marilyn Barton
Manager, Administration
Office: 416.360.3405
mbarton@khanresources.com