If you want an idea of what posters on this board think re takeover prices you can go back to any of my recent 'ARU POLL' messages which list everyone's predictions.

There are various thoughts re how to value ARU, insitu prices of gold are increasing but always based on 'the last sale' or properties that aren't similar to ARU. Bottom liner, best gold find in the world, best take out price.

I agree the next 43-101 will change the overall ounce count. Also the 2.3 g/t cutoff should change. The drills are doing the talking also.

Re politics, as Fearless said, we've beaten it to death. Overall, you either believe that Correa is a good guy or you're not invested here. ARU is in an ideal situation relating to hiring locals, assisting local villages, and even assisting government officials on understanding the ins and outs of mining.

Correa is no Chavez. He has promised much to his people and he knows he has to fund these promises somehow. Oil is one part of it, and mining is the other. The longer this goes on, the longer it will take to get his money out of the ground. He's learning all this. Even the most basic info as to when companies would invest in Ecuador and when they wouldn't. Laws that will work and laws that will drive business away. It's a learning curve.

I believe Aurelian is discussing everything with the Ecuadorians. There has to be a trust being built. In the end, if Correa fails to set laws and agreements that are favorable to companies, he'll be sitting on an expensive piece of moose pasture. That won't fund his government. Like any country that has been promised things by politicians, he only has so much time to sh*t or get off the pot. He's bit off a lot trying to overcome previous governments that were operating in underhanded ways, with kickbacks, payoffs, etc. After a bunch of presidents like that-why believe that Correa is different. But I think he is. Trust is earned. Correa has yet to show me he is saying one thing and doing another. He's been a straight arrow so far.

Sure they could make outlandish mining laws that no one could live with-but how would that help their cause. It wouldn't. Common sense should and will prevail. But that's the leap of faith. Some of us have been here for 2-3 years. This is the tail end of a long journey.

But the most exciting part. So congrats for getting in now. Anyway that's my opinion on the issue. Hope it helps.

safeharbour