Member Info for VanVan

Rennisks on ADVFN at today's Show giving feedback
Michael, Chris, and Ruth very chatty today, Venus ipo imminent, not too much info on delay other than wanting to get it right.
Tavsan purely down to government permits, could be tomorrow could be next week, but could be next month, hands are tied.
Salinbas- as they have previously stated terrible weather delayed progress there but now full steam ahead drilling.
Dividend policy actively being discussed and it’s really down to understanding what shareholders want, board are in favour.
Michael was due to speak hear, but has bad sty in eye and had to pull out.
Time for coffee and then round two when Ruth is free.

From Renniks on ADVFN who attended the Show today:
Michael, Chris, and Ruth very chatty today, Venus ipo imminent, not too much info on delay other than wanting to get it right.
Tavsan purely down to government permits, could be tomorrow could be next week, but could be next month, hands are tied.
Salinbas- as they have previously stated terrible weather delayed progress there but now full steam ahead drilling.
Dividend policy actively being discussed and it’s really down to understanding what shareholders want, board are in favour.
Michael was due to speak hear, but has bad sty in eye and had to pull out.
Time for coffee and then round two when Ruth is free.

Are there many Brokers who still haven't paid the dividend?
I was pleased to see at the bottom of the latest RNS they have finally updated the words to confirm Tavsan has been granted it's E.I.A.
Would love to hear Kerim go on video to discuss in more detail the latest news.

Interesting valuation post by Renniks on ADVFN.
News this morning from AIM-listed Gold-producer in Turkey, Ariana Resources (AAU), is that its (currently) 50%-owned investee Venus Minerals is set for an IPO on AIM during Q2. This is very positive, and will surely give Ariana’s shares a boost when completed.

No details of the accompanying fundraise were given today, but one would hope that previous indications of maybe £5-10 million of value being delivered to Ariana post IPO, a very good return on the Eur 3 million invested. And more to the point, since the shares will now be listed that value is obvious and real – when we know what it is!

Ariana’s market capitalisation is currently £40.6 million, and it has cash of around £20 million, a producing mine which should throw off around £5.8 million to Ariana for the foreseeable future (and at least until 2026) and a second mine at Tavsan awaiting the final go-ahead via Ariana’s 23.5% interest in the Turkish joint venture which should be up and running a year from get-go producing 30,000 oz Gold a year with similar economics.

As the ducks begin to line up, we now have the strong prospect of another new mine in Cyprus to add to the collection. If we assume £20 million of cash, £15 million for Kiziltepe and £10 million for Tavsan (harsh, but not delivered as yet) that is already more than the current market capitalisation meaning that Venus is valued at minus £5 million. Even just £5 million delivered from Venus would make Ariana’s valuation just silly – and there is still the potentially much larger resource at Salinbas to go, on top of a few bits and pieces via the 100%-owned Asgard fund and whatever comes from 75%-owned Western Tethyan Resources.

At 3.7p I still say buy the shares with a target of 7p, even if Roland “fatty” Cornish and an extra helping of spotted dick wth extra lashings of custard have been named as Nomad and his lunch for Venus and expect that target to be reached this year.

Gold & Silver charts look strong. Good February close. Break-out situation?
Ariana goes ex dividend on Thursday for pay-out on 25th March (0.0175p)
News must be very close on many fronts.
Exciting times in my opinion.

End of my post.

I'm frustrated because I see so much that could be done to support the Co. and it's valuation but there is now a wall between us and them. God knows why! The upside from here to 50p by the end of this decade is a very attractive investment proposition and I will continue to firmly hang onto that belief.
Sorry to have written at such length and no doubt bored the pants of everyone!!

I was interested to read all the comments going back to the joint venture decision. I know a number of investors here and on LSE had reservations at the time. I can't recall precisely what I said at the time, but on balance I tended to support it especially as it was a great way to in effect move my investment in Ariana to a free carry situation from the cash payout. But I know that wasn't the case for most so the decision to support or oppose had to be more numerically driven. That is where the problem came. A poster on LSE, who is an Accountant, went through the projected numbers and tried to analyse the impact on the share price. I did the same and we met up to discuss the outcome. In fact we ask Michael if he would meet us to discuss them, but he refused. Probably understandable. The upshot was that we expected the share price to fall in 2021/2022 for obvious reasons due to income being cut from Kiziltepe given the reduction to 23.5% ownership to the mid 4's not back into the 3's though!! Once Tavsan was in production, which at the time we expected to be during 2022, we could see the share price recover to c. 8p and then grow from there. So that left us with the quandary, did we believe the Board would use the residual capital wisely to as they said at the time, " utilise its enhanced capital position to fund further growth of Ariana's business. The latter activity will involve the acquisition of new exploration and development projects either within Turkey or in other regional jurisdictions and provide for the advancement of the Co. through the development of other assets held in whole or in part outside of the arrangements contemplated within the transaction".

They also said the J.V. was capable of unlocking the full value of their assets in Turkey, which will also target the development of a future pipeline of high value production projects. "It is the goal of the Partners to become one of the premier gold mining companies in Turkey".

I attended that initial J.V. meeting with the Co. in London when this was all announced and there was certainly lots of enthusiasm about the potential. Kerim, Michael, Peter, P.G. etc. were all there. I came away thinking the J.V. alone could create a $300m company in the future and that sits nicely with Kerim's subsequent stated objective to grow the overall Market Cap. to $500m.

So even though I expected a period of weakness, which we have certainly had, I was confident that the future had perhaps near 10 bagger potential. And a result I supported the J.V. decision. What I should have done is taken notice of my own assessment and reduced my holdings in 2021 only to buy back cheaper. Hindsight!!! Perhaps that is what our seller is doing.
Given I'm getting the income and given I still believe Kerim will deliver, notwithstanding all the shortcomings I have recently expressed, I remain happy to hold and or add once I feel we have bottomed out.

http://www.alignresearch.co.uk/align-research/align-research-top-10-conviction-calls-for-2022/

I also like this:- ONE OF THE PREMIER GOLD MINING CO's IN TURKEY. What does that mean in terms of a production/revenue target I wonder?

Kerim:- “We look forward to advancing the joint venture capable of unlocking the full value of our assets in Turkey, which will also target the development of a future pipeline of high-value production projects. It is the goal of the Partners to become one of the premier gold mining companies operating in Turkey."

STRATEGY:

.... to develop the company strategy to target a further ten-fold multiplication in market capitalisation within the next decade.

As we go into 2022 perhaps it is worth reminding ourselves of these very positive remarks from the horse's mouth.
EXTRACTS FROM PROACTIVE ARTICLE - 18th February 2021 & Other Co. material

ARIANA RESOURCES (AAU)
VISION:

“Develop the companies strategy to target a further ten-fold multiplication in market capitalisation within the next decade”

That means increasing the Market Capitalisation from £50m to £500m

Kerim:- “I now see no obstacles to achieving our next target by 2030 and I encourage our shareholders to support this vision.”

Philby1 on ADVFN says: 7.15p
And this was my post on ADVFN this morning in case it is of interest.
"Well Ariana got through it’s long drawn out transaction successfully in 2021 and set itself up as a broader, more diversified Co. ready to take the steps to grow towards its stated goal of being a £500m Co. by the end of the decade. (Kerim confirmed this in an interview earlier in 2021). It is positioning itself to take advantage of the paradigm shift to greener energy, creating unprecedented demand for the likes of copper and even silver. 2021 was lack lustre in share price performance terms, but I suspect we have finished treading water and the future is bright for 2022. Good luck everyone.

Wonder what rattled our cage today?

Nigel Somerville has named Ariana as one of his 2022 tips on the ************* site. Anyone got any more info on this? Target price etc.?

Good stuff John. Yes been a pleasure to hear your cautionary views at times but I'm of the opinion that as long term loyal supporters we continue to believe strongly in the future here. We like the ethics, we like the ESG credentials and we like the undoubted best in class ongoing performance, particularly in terms of costs, and discovery success. We like the new diversified strategy in terms of commodities and locations and we like most of all the mountain of accretive news flow predicted for 2022. Great that long "termers" have held the faith through the recent wobbles. I agree with John, 2022 will be different, general market volatility aside! Have a great break & get ready for better times very soon IMO.

Thanks for taking the time to reply desert joe. Sounds like you have been a bit of a nomad.
Anyway back to AAU, I see we were tipped on Motley Fool and this has been mentioned on Twitter. Perhaps the reason for the buying activity. Nice to see.
A mention by The Motley Fool tonight
'Gold prices rise when inflationary pressures grow. This is why I’m considering buying Ariana Resources (LSE: AAU) today, though it’s not the only reason why.

I’m also encouraged by the slew of positive drilling updates from its Turkish assets (and from Mediterranean-focussed miners in which it’s invested) in recent months. I’d buy Ariana despite the threat that gold prices could fall if, for example, the US dollar were to strengthen'.

desert joe: This is what my college says in response to your comments. He has lived in Oregon for quite some years.
"There is a great deal of correctness in it, but like all such articles inevitably it becomes a personal view. While I would not take issue really I would point out that food is much cheaper here than there. Motor fuel - hugely cheaper still. Housing costs - depends on where you live, how you want to live. Property taxes can be really high in popular areas. Salaries not mentioned - some quite low, but many pretty decent. More opportunity here with fewer folks chasing each job. State pensions - more complex in that it depends on how much is contributed. I get both UK and US, the US is three times the UK one. The small caveat that there have been concerns raised about its liquidity. The classic cars comment - I would say that is rubbish, but then it depends what one sees as a classic car. There are many older american cars at low dollars.

The population density of the UK is a real thing, and because of that salaries are not particularly high - especially when considering housing. I would say people here have more disposable income. Sometimes its not a great deal but they enjoy in many ways an arguably better lifestyle."

Nice to see AAU tick up today. Let's have more please. A very happy Christmas to you all. I'm sure if they keep the wheels on the economy and there isn't any nasty stock market crash, then we should do a lot better in 2022.
Fingers crossed and good luck everyone.

Gold to Outperform Bitcoin, Stock Market in 2022 | Gareth Soloway youtu.be/s1sZxcWSgAs via @YouTube
Worth a listen. Gold $3000 by end of next year.

My post on ADVFN this evening.
I've now watched the 1 hour Mines & Money presentation. It was pretty good.
Kerim took his time, was calm and fairly laid back.
I was pleased to see him mention the positive impact of the declining Turkish Lira, but the key messages were I think.
1. He had a slide which showed how undervalued Ariana is versus it's peers. He said quite strongly that "it doesn't make any sense we are trading at such a discount". Not sure I've heard him talk about the valuation disconnect quite so clearly before. Well done.
2. He explained in some detail the potential coming from Ardale/Salinbas & indeed Cyprus. The assets are already vastly bigger than Kiziltepe and we have hardly started.
3. Good drilling progress is already being made at Tavsan & Salinbas (2 Rigs at each location I think). There is so much news to come from both projects in 2022.
4. The substantial drill programme at Kiziltepe will lead to a new Resource in coming weeks. That has got to be exciting.
5. The Venus IPO in Australia takes place tomorrow.
6. There is obviously going to be an ongoing dividend strategy,
7. Kerim would like two more names added to Asgard by end of 2022.
In my opinion this is a great time to buy as clearly it isn't going to be long before sentiment changes here.
Enjoy

This from Henry at Yellow Jersey today:
"Just for your interest as you weren’t able to attend, please find below a link to the recording of Ariana’s presentation at Mines and Money last week. Please feel free to share this further if you wish."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAux0z-3a1I

Thanks