Ariana Share Price (AAU)

Posters keep rattling on about Dokwe's gold deposits being under the Kalahari Desert. This desert would appear to me to be more to the West, in Botswana & Namibia.

But I digress. At long last, Van Van, you appear to be getting the vibes I began to worry about a long time ago about Ariana. John's viewpoint about our " merger" also added worries. Sadly, It seems to me to have evolved as just another example of so many unpleasant AIM experiences which over the years have duped their investors and produced a comfortable lifestyle for those " on top (literally )of their " pile " . Initially I really believed that I had found a wonderful route to riches. In hindsight my time and investment was really many wasteful years here. Thus eventually I lost my faith in all the hype and promises so over the last year I reduced my holding and now I have none. So far by investing my former AAU money elsewhere in real Stock Market leaders, in every case I have gained regular quarterly dividends and all my stock has risen wonderfully in value.

For what it's worth I also decided over 5 years ago to stay well clear of Africa, China and the Russian Federation because many Companies and consequently their investors have been " ripped off" badly by authoritarian corruption.

Yep Van, as I said yesterday the circuitous sentence from the RNS about 3 years did mean it incorporated more than a little ambiguity. Could mean they may be able to start to commence development in 3 years! I don't recall Sener even mentioning 3 years this morning, perhaps he thought it best not to. If Dokwe doesn't soak up the dividends then Salinbas will. In fact from the current JVs major shareholders viewpoint Salinbas is more important, at least at the moment, and since Ozaltin control Zenit then AAU may not get dividends from the JV because it will be used to promote the development in Eastern Turkey. That raises the question where the bloody hell does the money come from for Dokwe development, the ex Rockover directors will want some action there because they are no spring chickens themselves. They will of course end up as the major AAU shareholders in June or July this year. My fear is huge debt on the AAU balance sheet, if things go wrong the loan creditors foreclose and equity holders tend to get wiped out.

The Rockover directors, shortly to be AAU directors, may be more astute than this mornings double act, they will hopefully not sit back and allow another big payday for Ozaltin if the Zimbabwe development is to be funded by a new JV there.

You talk about the AAU development not suiting those of our age. Or MDVs. I suspect that the whole development profile is geared to someone of say, now let me think, oh yes, someone of maybe Kerim Seners age??

And this John.

"we anticipate advancing the Dokwe project towards production within the next three years"

Very Motherhood type words. Advancing towards - what does that mean? Not we will be in production in 3 years.

The slide with production from Salinbas is also a joke as was the comment that we are a dividend paying Co.

We need more honesty and much greater clarity. Gritty hard hinting statements.

They need to put themselves in the shoes of shareholders and consider where there are coming from. Consider carefully what they want to hear, primarily of course a focus on how actions will increasing value and reward via dividends.

The need for a Corporate savvy communicator with contacts etc. will only get bigger as they expand and face Institutional interest. It is still very poor currently and we can see that in the recent trading reaction. They have failed so far to excite investors with this new opportunity, perhaps also due to the track record to date.

Posted this!

I agree we did see a better performance from MdV this morning. Sceptically, perhaps he fears the re-election vote!! But yes as he ages he must be looking for a shorter return than one that keeps getting pushed into the long grass.

But as my wife said to me this morning, weren't we promised a dividend once Tavsan was up and running. Have they now rescinded on that? Given the age profile of many here I'm sure that is seen as a very poor show. If you promised to do something important like that and talk about wanting the "financial discipline" etc. it brings, then you have to stand by your word. Given they have been doing DD on Dowke for around a year, they must have had an inkling of what they intended to do. Promising a dividend and thereby perhaps encouraging people to buy shares or certainly hold on and then do the opposite, as though it matters not, is very poor form in my opinion. Those wanting that regular dividend, who were perhaps prepared to hold on ignoring share price gyrations whilst they got an income, could well now decide to sell or reduce their holding. I wonder if they have any concept of how frustrating missed deadlines and failed promises are. Like promises over Salinbas, Cyprus and dividends etc. one starts to loose faith and trust.

Van, you are quiet on both boards. Am I right assuming that you aren't too happy?