Assignment
Our client, a government mining agency, was interested in the exploration and exploitation potential of a specific suite of minerals in ten countries of central and southern Africa. The proposed project involved a general overview of the potential for these minerals in the whole of Africa, subsequently focusing on the specified countries, and including a simplified geological map showing mineral locations. This was followed by a second, more detailed study of South Africa, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which had been determined by our client as having the greatest potential for these minerals. Our client was primarily interested in economically significant information for each prospect or deposit, such as the nature of the mineralisation, estimated grade/reserves and the history of exploitation. Local infrastructure and accessible references or reports on the occurrences were also of great interest.

Approach
The first part of the study was based on desk research. Roskill’s own report on the commodities and its in-house database formed the basis of the initial investigation but the major part of the work depended on bibliographic searches at the extensive reference collections of the Geological Society and the British Geological Survey. The follow-up investigation involved primary research in the chosen countries and included meetings with governmental organisations, national Geological Surveys and mining and exploration companies, to discuss mineral occurrence and arrange further data collection. This was supplemented by additional bibliographic work with the Museum of Central Africa (MRAC) in Brussels.

Result
The client was supplied with interim and final reports giving a summary of the potential for the specified minerals in central and southern Africa, and a detailed review of specific occurrences in the three chosen countries. This included an extensive reference list, coloured maps and up-to-date concession information. Since a significant proportion of the work focused on prospective geologic settings, the reports also contained information on other minerals that are commonly associated with those of prime interest.

Assignment
A major specialist metal producing company required a study of the global market for inorganic cobalt salts, to include an evaluation of cobalt salts producers, an analysis of current and future demand for cobalt salts by product and end-use, international trade statistics and trends in prices for cobalt salts.

Approach
In addition to desk-based research using Roskill's extensive in-house database and relevant on-line databases, a telephone survey of the major producers of inorganic cobalt salts world-wide was undertaken to establish output levels, expansion plans, product ranges and specifications. Additionally, a number of major consumers of inorganic cobalt salts were interviewed to build up a picture of current and future trends in demand, quality requirements and prices for different product grades.

Result
The final report identified the major producers of inorganic salts and supplied detailed profiles of these companies. Consumption of these salts was broken down by end-use application and by individual salt, and a five-year outlook for demand trends was also included. International trade flows were also analysed and prices for different types and grades of cobalt salt were provided. An executive summary pointed out the main trends in the market and the most likely supply/demand scenarios over a five year period.

Assignment
A US company had acquired a property in South America containing useful quantities of an industrial chemical. The market is a small one, and dominated by other producers in South America. There are also other producers in the United States, and in Japan, but they have higher costs of production. The company's bankers required an outside assessment of the likely impact of the forecast production of our client company on the world market.

Approach
Roskill Information Services had recently completed one of its regular series of studies on this commodity. That provided a useful base for this special study, which concentrated on the likely course of development of existing end-uses, and the probable growth in demand from new end-uses, some of which are likely to be substantial. Interviews were carried out with key consumers.

Result
The client was pleased with the finished report, which fulfilled their needs for submission to the bank, and enabled them to get the financing to develop the project further.

Assignment
A major US-based multi-national was interested in acquiring a target company which had unexpectedly been put up for sale by its parent. The target company operates in a market which for many years has been tightly controlled by the two main US producers (one of which was the target company), but recently a substantial new source of supply controlled by a South American company has become available. The assignment was to brief members of the corporate acquisition team about the particular characteristics of the market, to do some detailed fieldwork to find out more about the rapidly developing competitive situation, to take part in site visits to the target company's facilities, and to assist in the examination of the target company's records.

Approach
This project had necessarily to be done within a very tight time scale. Roskill had a considerable amount of knowledge of the market available in-house, and also had an associate who had worked for many years in this industry. Roskill was therefore exceptionally well placed to respond to all the varied calls for information, advice and assistance with questions to the target company's management.

Result
There were quite a number of serious bidders at the deadline date. Our client was keen to acquire the target company because many of their activities were a natural fit. They were not the successful bidder; one European company with substantial interests in the same field saw this as an unrepeatable opportunity to develop a major market presence in the Americas, and bid a high price in order to secure it.

Assignment
A European industrial company needed a company profile of a supplier of refractory and foundry products. The study was required to establish the market standing of this company in relation to its main competitors, and to evaluate their technological competence.

Approach
We carried out a telephone survey of consumers of the supplier's products and services in North America, Germany, France and the UK. This was backed up by a comprehensive search of the relevant technical and business press. Roskill's in-house database was used to supply information on market conditions and existing and potential competitors.

Result
The client received a detailed report on the response from our interview survey, together with statistical background material on the markets served by the company under investigation. We summarised the supplier's technological competence and assessed its marketing approach.