TYPICAL CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENTS

Clients have recently asked us to undertake the following assignments…

• The fifteen-year outlook for pulpwood and woodchip prices. This study was commissoned by an investor in biomass power capacity in the UK as part of its bid for project financing.
  
  
• The availability of biomass feedstock in potential supply regions. This study, on behalf of a UK investor in a biomass power project, assessed the future availability of woody biomass in target supply regions as part of the development of the plant's feedstock supply strategy.
  
  
• The market feasibility of a bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp (BCTMP) project in Australia. This study was commissioned by the project consortium.
  
  
• A feasibility study regarding the availability of fibre certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. This study was comissioned by Kimberly-Clark in response to a shareholder resolution calling on KCC to phase out its use of non-FSC-certified wood fibre.
  
  
• The structure of the market for minerals and fillers - for coating grades of kaolin in particular - examining market size and usage trends, competitive advantages/disadvantages of the principal kaolin suppliers etc. The study was commissioned by a private equity fund as part of the due diligence prior to a proposed aquisition.
  
  
• The market feasibility of a project to build a bleached acacia kraft market pulp mill in SE Asia. This study was commissioned by the project's financial advisors on behalf of the project consortium.
  
  
• The medium term market outlook facing a coated woodfree paper producer planning to expand capacity in East Asia. This study was commissioned by an international lending institution as part of the syndication of the project finance.
  
  
• An appraisal of a proposed purchase of a European pulp mill by a private equity investor. The study was commissioned by a private equity house.
  
  
• An assessment of the UK export market for recovered paper. This study, undertaken for a UK government agency in 2005 and updated in 2007, modelled the outlook for the global recovered paper market over the next 15 years and included a risk assessment of the UK recycling industry’s exposure to global prices for recovered paper.
  
  
• The perceived competitive advantages of a European market pulp supplier. This study involved interviewing pulp buyers throughout Europe to assess their perceptions of the supplier's strengths and weaknesses.
  
  
• The demand for reinforcement grades of softwood pulp in Europe and Asia. This study, commissioned by a pulp and paper producer contemplating an investment in Russia, involved interviewing publication, tissue and speciality papermakers to assess their current and likely future requirements.
  
  
• A market feasibility study of a hardwood kraft market pulp mill project in Indonesia. This study was commissioned by the project consortium on behalf of the lending institutions.
  
  
• The size and structure of the Chinese market for stock preparation equipment (refiner plates and screen cylinders). The study was commissioned by a North American equipment supplier planning an expansion into the Chinese market.
  
  
• The market feasibility of a pulp mill project in Australia on behalf of an agency of a state government
  
  
• The medium and long-term outlook for global woodfree paper markets. This feasibility study was conducted on behalf of an integrated pulp & paper maker planning an capacity expansion in south-east Asia.
  
  
• The market feasibility of a world scale market pulp mill in Brazil. A ten-year outlook for bleached eucalyptus kraft market pulp demand, supply, and prices, including the recommendations of a marketing strategy. The financial consortium commissioned the study.
  
  
• The ten-year market outlook for coating kaolin demand, supply and prices. This market study was commissioned by a Brazilian kaolin producer and its lending institutions investigating the feasibility of a major expansion.
  
  
• The structure and outlook for the corrugated boxboard market in south-east Asia and the feasibility of a planned capacity expansion. This study was commissioned by a multi-national financial institution as part of an investment appraisal.