Investment in Tigris Resources

24 November 2010 AIM / PLUS Markets: AAU INVESTMENT IN TIGRIS RESOURCES Ariana Resources plc ("Ariana" or "the Company"), the gold exploration and development company focused on Turkey, is pleased to announce a strategic investment in Tigris Resources Limited ("Tigris"), a private company focused on gold and copper exploration in south-eastern Turkey. Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director, commented: "We have long held the view that south-eastern Turkey is the next great frontier for gold and copper exploration in Turkey.  Effective exploration in this region requires a unique and dedicated management capability and a focused exploration mind-set, which the Tigris team delivers in spades.  With this investment in to Tigris, Ariana is leveraging on these skills, knowing that they will be applied wisely to a region that hosts significant potential for the discovery of world- class deposits.  We are excited to be involved in the development of Tigris, which we are confident will become a leading explorer in this frontier region of Turkey." Mr. Drew Craig, Managing Director, Tigris Resources Limited, commented: "The south-east region of Turkey is highly prospective for gold and copper, and with several national and international initiatives in the area, we see growing momentum on the emergence, investment and development of the region.  The Tigris focus area, comparable in size to the United Kingdom, constitutes one of the final jigsaw pieces of the Tethyan Metallogenic Belt.  To date, this region has been largely underexplored and, given the pedigree of surrounding resources, is capable of hosting world-class mineral deposits.  Tigris is delighted to have Ariana as a strategic investor and looks forward to pioneering new discoveries in south-east Turkey." Details of the Investment Ariana has participated in a private placing for shares in Tigris Resources Limited for 2.7 million shares at a total cost of CAD 115,000 thus giving Ariana 15% of the total shares issued following the completion of the current round of funding which has successfully raised CAD 530,000.  This private placement was substantially oversubscribed. Under this arrangement, Ariana is entitled to appoint a non-executive director to the board of Tigris.  Dr. Kerim Sener has been nominated to serve as a non- executive director of Tigris by Ariana.  Ariana may nominate a director in place of Dr. Sener, subject always to Tigris's articles of association and as long as Ariana holds a minimum of 7.5 per cent. of the issued share capital of Tigris.  Separately, following the placement, 5.56% of Tigris is held through an investment made by the wife of Dr. Sener. The funds raised by Tigris will be used for the acquisition of licences under an anticipated round of tenders that are expected to be released by the Turkish authorities during the first quarter of 2011.  The funds will also be used to support further greenfields target generation, ground reconnaissance and licence acquisition.  Tigris also intends to consider further investment and partnership opportunities following the approach of several Turkish organisations with business and mining interests in southeast Turkey. The recently revised Mining Law in Turkey is widely expected to have a major impact on how companies explore and develop licences.  Having anticipated these changes, Tigris is well placed to capitalise on the improving dynamics of the southeast region. The focus area of Tigris will be the Bitlis Suture Zone and flanking structures, which are highly prospective for a range of mineral deposit styles including porphyry Cu-Au systems, epithermal to Carlin-style deposits, skarns and volcanogenic massive sulphides. Contacts: Ariana Resources plc Tel: 020 7407 3616 Michael Spriggs, Chairman Kerim Sener, Managing Director Beaumont Cornish Limited Tel: 020 7628 3396 Roland Cornish Alexander David Securities Limited Tel: 020 7448 9820 Nick Bealer / David Scott Loeb Aron & Company Ltd Tel: 020 7628 1128 Jonathan Willis-Richards / Frank Lucas Editors' note: About Tigris Resources Tigris is an exploration and development company focused on the search for gold and copper deposits in the highly prospective Tethyan Metallogenic Belt in southeast Turkey. Tigris's 'Comprehensive Development Strategy' is designed to enable the exploitation of a range of opportunities with the aim of developing a focussed ground acquisition programme.  Running concurrently, the components of the strategy integrate Tigris's ability to acquire ground via tender, greenfield target generation and joint venture partnerships. Tigris's board and management team have a proven record in building companies, discovering, acquiring and developing resource in emerging environments, especially along the Tethyan Metallogenic Belt. For further information on Tigris Resources you are invited to visit the Tigris's website at www.tigrisresources.com. About Ariana Resources Ariana is an exploration and development company focused on epithermal gold- silver and porphyry copper-gold deposits in Turkey.  The Company is exploring a portfolio of prospective licences selected on the basis of its in-house geological and remote-sensing database, on its own in western Turkey and in Joint Venture with European Goldfields Limited in north-eastern Turkey. The Company's flagship assets are its Sindirgi and Tavsan gold projects.  Both projects contain a series of prospects, within two prolific mineralised districts in the Western Anatolian Volcanic and Extensional (WAVE) Province in western Turkey.  This Province hosts the largest operating gold mines in Turkey and remains highly prospective for new porphyry and epithermal deposits.  These core projects, which are separated by a distance of 75km, are presently being assessed as to their economic merits and now form part of a Joint Venture with Proccea Construction Co.  The total resource inventory of the Company stands at 448,000 ounces of gold equivalent. Loeb Aron & Company Ltd. and Alexander David Securities Limited are joint brokers to the Company and Beaumont Cornish Limited is the Company's Nominated Adviser. For further information on Ariana you are invited to visit the Company's website atwww.arianaresources.com. Ends [HUG#1464958] This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Ariana Resources plc via Thomson Reuters ONE
UK 100

Latest directors dealings