Member Info for steward1

Firwood- I believe the RNS in July last year didn't go down well.

Radika- I'm hopeful.

Don't think he's allowed to say anything about the diamonds because he upset someone in Zim previously. Could he be waiting for a resolution on these this month... unlikely!

It absolutely is undervalued. AP just needs to get the financing sorted. I thought the interview that he did last week was good and gave me a load more confidence that he will get this over the line.

Clearly progress could have been better with regards to BP over the years but I think he's done a lot with some of these other revenue streams. He didn't appear as someone at the last chance saloon and he was talking about other revenue streams once the finance deal is done.

I'm not known for my optimism but I'm more inclined to think that he'll surprise the market this time round. I don't think that it will just be the Swiss guy coughing up the funds to repay the debt.

AP knows that the sooner he announces a deal, the better for all concerned... so why is he taking this right up to the line? Could he be waiting for something else to happen first? Has he opened up the possibility of getting on board to other parties as well?

Newbie Super_Mouse - why am I not surprised that you work/worked in the city!! Not sure that working in the city for 34 years gives you much credibility! You would've been there when the City crashed the world economy in 2008!

ASI - the question raised was why VAST are in insolvency. The RNS referred to earlier states the reason why and it's not because of back taxes. There may be back taxes but that wasn't the reason given in the RNS. Some folk can chose not to believe what's in a RNS, like the newbie Super-Mouse but he's just mischief making.

I'm surprised that you're not backing me up, ASI - I'm not going to go searching for previous comments from your good self but I thought you were in the camp that says if it's not in a RNS, it's speculation... or something similar.

Super_Mouse - if you had done your research then you would have read the RNS dated 10th June. It explains there about insolvency. I'll give you that for free.

Let me read that RNS again... nope... no mention of back taxes!

Super-mouse - you really need to do your research before throwing doubt at stuff which is not in doubt. Very lazy comments! I'm not going to give you the answer because you need to learn to do your research.

I guess if one's own character is dubious, you think everyone else is the same - implying that AP is taking the opportunity to lie because an interview is not legally binding says more about the person making the comment than it does about AP.

I think within a few weeks, AP will have gone from zero to hero!

AP, of course, carries some of the responsibility but the real damage was done by previous financiers/bad actors... check the history.

Hi Dr J - hope life is treating you well.

I seem to have an attraction to some basket case companies. AP and VAST have been through the mill for several years including the sudden loss of a dear colleague but I reckon that he's going to get this over the line. It's one of these 'tipping point' situations... get the finance sorted and the gates will open.

Xataxx - good post. I'd add a no. 7. Announcement of additional projects once funding is sorted.

And on funding, AP has £4.45m to find. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a solution which involves a combination of the Swiss guy, a new investor/partner (from Tajikistan?) and possibly a share dilution to cover the balance, if needed. Given the 50% reduction in staff at BP, I'm 99% certain that the company will be profitable and well able to service it's debts once the finance solution is implemented.

Whatever the make-up of the solution, the market cap will end up being significantly higher than where it is now. I'll be conservative and suggest that it would jump to £30m (slightly lower than the MC prior to the consolidation). Even if existing shareholders own 50% of VAST at that point, we're still sitting on a 10 bagger. This could be the best recovery play on AIM this year.

I'm guessing that our Mr Jones is thinking the same way and I reckon that he will continue to buy at these levels.

AIMHO

There's plenty of time for the Swiss announcement.

As he says, the lights are not going off later this month but the market would respond a lot better if they were better at communicating what's going on. If he believes, as he does, that there's a positive future for VAST and it's shareholders, he is missing the mark in being able to convey that to the market.

After that interview, though, I'm more convinced that he's going to get this over the line. I'm much happier this morning.

ASI - clearly this all centres on the financing. And I understand your approach in terms of acting on facts but what's your take on this - there has been nothing officially announced (factual?) to say that the Swiss deal is not going ahead. In fact, the last announcement confirmed that it was still expected to go ahead. I don't doubt that AP plays fast and loose with AIM rules but, if the deal was not progressing, he would still be obliged to let the market know without delay.

I'm sure they can, ASI... could probably argue that, if they were going to do that then they would have done it a long time ago. I'd agree that they have been incredibly patient but I think today's update in particular shows that AP has made the radical changes necessary to satisfy the Swiss (or another lender) that BP will be profitable and can service the debt. He has continued to add additional revenue streams too.

I appreciate that there is a lack of detail and that it is still high risk but I'm happy to stay invested.

AP is ticking all the boxes... I appreciate that some people will hate that fact... but this is is looking more and more like he will get this over the line.

Market cap still only a measly £2m - was £30m+ before share consolidation earlier in the year. As and when, AP gets the financing sorted and VAST is in a profitable situation, I'd suggest the MC is going to multiply several times.

High risk/high reward!

AIMHO.

BP costs down (by half), now accessing higher grades and more revenue, increased revenue from other projects/workstreams - financially, looks like AP is demonstrating that this is very profitable going forward... and that's what the Swiss financiers will have asked for.

I'd like him replaced too but it looks like AP will get this over the line.

Can't understand why anyone would be negative about this morning's update unless they had bet on VAST going bust.

Feels like some people have found themselves on the wrong side of the fence.

If there was any change to the Swiss deal, e.g. it was no longer going ahead, then AP would have had to include it in this update.

I appreciate that AP doesn't have a great track record and there's a major lack of trust but it does feel like he is getting this over the line.

Goodness, a 50% reduction in staff at BP - that's going to put a rocket booster under the sp this morning.!!!

Biggest takeaway is that there's no need for a fundraise! Feels like AP has steadied the ship.

Bunsen- sorry that you're on the wrong side of the trade today.

Some folk refusing to see what is in front of their eyes. The Swiss financiers also own PGM...