Client Testimonials: Trusted by Global Leaders

"Andrzej Kotas and a team of six other experts from Metals Consulting International Limited (MCI) were appointed by the Department for International Development in the UK (DfID) to support the Ethiopian Ministry of Industry with preparation of an inception study for a new multi-million tonne capacity greenfield steel plant.

The study included detailed steel market evaluations, technology deliberations, technical and environmental assessments, and the preparation of a financial model for the new business. Particular emphasis was also placed on steel plant location assessments, on matters of water availability and on transport infrastructure issues.

I am pleased to confirm that Andrzej and other experts in the MCI consulting team performed these tasks both thoroughly and diligently, to the full satisfaction of DFID.

DFID thus has no hesitation in offering a positive testimonial for MCI as a highly competent firm of steel industry consultants."

"Over the period July – October 2002, Dr Andrzej M Kotas was appointed as Project Leader, charged with preparation of a Steel Restructuring Programme for the three main steel plants in the Czech Republic.

Dr Kotas, working with a team of international market, technical, environmental and financial advisers and with the full support and cooperation of the Czech Steel Federation and local steel experts, worked diligently in the preparation of this complex Programme. The outputs included business and turnaround plans for achievement of viability by each of the three main steelmaking plants. The resulting National Steel Restructuring Plan was accepted by the European Commission as a substantive document facilitating subsequent EU-related accession talks including legalisation of prior State Aid to the steel industry.

The work of Dr Kotas was an essential aspect of the pre-accession discussions held between the Czech and the EC authorities; and indeed an important step in the subsequent privatisation of the industry that was enabled by the Plan.

I am pleased to confirm that the contribution of Dr Kotas for the future development of the Czech steel sector was thus most valuable."

"Over the period March – June 1998, Dr Andrzej M Kotas worked as the Project Leader, charged with preparation of a National Restructuring Plan for the Polish steel sector.

Dr Kotas worked with a multidisciplinary team of market, technical, environmental and financial experts and with the full support and cooperation of the Instytut Metalurgii Żelaza (Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy) in Gliwice, Poland.

I am pleased to state that in my opinion Dr Kotas worked very expertly and professionally on the Steel Programme. Reports diligently prepared under the supervision of Dr Kotas included turnaround plans for achievement of viability by Poland's biggest steelmaking plants. The resulting National Restructuring Plan for the Polish steel sector was accepted by the European Commission as an important foundation for later EU accession talks including the forgiveness of prior State Aid to the industry.

The work of Dr Kotas was a very important part of the pre-accession discussions held between the European and Polish authorities.

The contribution of Dr Kotas to the future development of the Polish iron and steel sector was therefore noteworthy."

"As a Senior Fellow in strategy and steel restructuring at the Management Faculty of Mining & Metallurgy in Krakow (Poland), I worked with Dr Andrzej M Kotas on a number of Polish steel industry consulting assignments over the period 1996 – 2001.

These assignments included pre-privatisation restructuring of the largest Polish flat rolled steel plant [Huta Sendzimira]; modernisation / privatisation of Poland's largest long product mill [Huta Katowice]; business turnaround for several other smaller steel plants; and preparation of the National Steel Restructuring Programme. All projects were important steel industry assignments; not least in the Polish steel industry context, but for local employment especially at a time when Poland was adapting from central planning to a market economy.

In my personal view, Dr Kotas – who had an instrumental Project Management and Leadership role in all these assignments – made an outstanding contribution to these projects; working diligently as a foreign steel expert, with the successful outcome of these assignments always in mind. Dr Kotas brought foreign perspective and much professional consulting experience to these assignments:

• managing multi-cultural project teams in different countries, often to tight client deadlines and sometimes in the face of significant planning uncertainty;
• working in roles ranging from initial proposal-writing, to project management / reporting, through to final report-writing and presentation;
• marshalling expert networks and West European / North American expert support as necessary to get jobs done;
• teaching others in new business concepts [e.g. 'viability' - still an unknown concept in Poland a decade ago] as required;
• and applying business understanding to management issues as necessary.

The role of Dr Kotas in facilitating the positive long-term development of the Polish steel industry through consulting support to the Polish and other government bodies as well as to 3rd party foreign investors has been most prominent.

It is with pleasure therefore that I can recommend Dr Kotas as an expert consultant on the topic of the Polish steel industry."

"Over the period January-May 2004, Dr Andrzej M Kotas worked as Team Leader on the preparation of a National Steel Industry Restructuring Study in the Republic of Croatia. This work, which was for the European Commission, involved Andrzej managing a team of steel sector experts focused on the financial, market, technical and environmental aspects of the restructuring.

During the course of this work Andrzej worked both diligently and effectively, with preparation of the Study completed on budget and to schedule."

"This is to confirm that Mr Andrzej M Kotas was working as a consultant for Trinecke Zelezarny a.s. during the period July-August 2003, providing the Company with advisory support in the preparation of a business plan for submission to the European Commission.

Performance of Mr Kotas was diligent and effectiv for Trinecke Zelezarny a.s. and of the highest professional standards."

"I confirm that Metals Consulting International (MCI), as a team of four experts led by Dr Andrzej M Kotas, undertook due-diligence investigations of a leading integrated East European iron and steel plant for the EBRD during July and August 2008.

The investigations, which covered strategic, market and technical assessments and involved the preparation of financial forecasts to assist with evaluation of debt repayment ability, related to substantial melt shop and subsequent hot strip mill modernisation.

The EBRD was very pleased with the performance of Andrzej Kotas, and with that of the whole MCI consulting team. MCI delivered comprehensive written reports and financial assessments to the Bank both quickly and to a high quality standard. The MCI team also supported the EBRD professionally with clarifications and related support throughout the due-diligence process.

The EBRD thus has pleasure in offering a very positive testimonial for MCI."

"I confirm that Metals Consulting International (MCI), as a team of six experts led by Dr.Andrzej M Kotas, undertook due-diligence investigations of the Erdemir and Isdemir steel works for Ordu Yardimlasma Kurumu (OYAK) during August and September 2005.

The investigations, which covered market, technical and environmental assessments and involved the preparation of financial forecasts assisting with business valuation, related to the potential acquisition by OYAK of the controlling interest of Erdemir Steel Group.

We were very pleased with both the performance of Dr.Kotas, and with that of the whole MCI consulting team. MCI delivered written reports and financial assessments to OYAK that were both on schedule and prepared to a high quality standard. The MCI team supported OYAK professionally throughout the due-diligence process, and in early October 2005, OYAK submitted the winning bid for the business.

OYAK thus have pleasure in providing a positive testimonial for MCI."

"We wish to confirm that over the period Jan - May 2012 a team from Metals Consulting International - led by Dr Andrzej M Kotas - assisted us in preparing a feasibility study for investment in a new steel plant at a greenfield site in Angola. The study assessed the market, technical and commercial aspects of the proposed investment, involving steelmaking, casting and rolling.

We were very satisfied with the performance of the MCI consulting team. Dr Andrzej Kotas and his colleagues delivered the written reports and spreadsheet analyses on schedule and within budget, to a very good quality standard.

I am therefore pleased to recommend MCI as a highly competent and professional team of steel industry consultants."

"During July and August 2006 UK-based Metals Consulting International ('MCI'), led by Dr Andrzej M Kotas, assisted Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG ('OeKB') with a steel sector feasibility study for a major steelmaker in the Ukraine. The feasibility study concerned the market, technical, environmental and financial aspects of a plant-wide modernisation involving both up- and downstream investment in steelmaking plant and equipment.

OeKB was pleased with the performance of the entire MCI consulting team. MCI delivered the feasibility study to schedule and to a comprehensive and high quality standard. The Consultants supported OeKB professionally throughout the assignment.

It is with pleasure therefore that we provide a positive testimonial for MCI."

"Dr Andrzej M Kotas joined Beddows & Company in January 1990 and worked on steel industry related assignments for an 11-year period through to May 2001. Across this time Andrzej was promoted from Consultant to Senior Consultant and then to Director. After the acquisition of Beddows & Company by Hatch, Andrzej was also promoted to being a Hatch Associate.

Andrzej's more recent work responsibilities at Hatch Beddows involved the management of all Central and East European steel industry assignments, a duty that he performed both very diligently and effectively."

"I wish to confirm that Deloittes engaged the services of Metals Consulting International Limited (MCI) for a steel industry restructuring assignment in Central Europe during March and April 2014.

I am pleased to note that the MCI consulting team, led by Dr Andrzej M Kotas, assisted Deloittes very diligently with technical issues relating to the restructuring assignment and that all expected deliverables were supplied on time and to a high quality standard.

Deloittes therefore have no hesitation in offering a positive testimonial for MCI as a competent and professional firm of steel industry experts."

"I confirm that a team of steel industry experts from Metals Consulting International Limited – led by Andrzej M Kotas – supported RSM Ashvir Consulting Ltd between April-June 2014 with the preparation of a feasibility study for investment in a Greenfield Steel Mill in Kenya. This assistance included market, technical and financial evaluations relating to the new steel plant including steelmaking technology selection.

RSM Ashvir Consulting Ltd were pleased with the performance of MCI on this assignment. Andrzej Kotas and his consulting team delivered all necessary reports covering the agreed scope of work on time and within the requested fee budget.

RSM Ashvir Consulting Ltd is therefore pleased to recommend MCI as a competent firm of steel industry investment advisers."

"Andrzej Kotas was approached by TransAcier for various steel industry consulting projects from 2013 onwards. These projects included steel market analyses, steel sector competitor appraisals and feasibility studies for steel mill modernisation and investment. All of these studies were undertaken by Metals Consulting International (MCI) and related to the steel sector in West Africa.

I am pleased to confirm that the support of MCI on all of these assignments was very professional indeed and that - under the supervision of Mr Kotas – all the projects were completed to TransAcier's full satisfaction, often to a very tight timeframe.

I therefore have no hesitation in offering a very positive testimonial for MCI as a highly competent firm of steel industry consultants."

"In mid-2017, management of the Egyptian Iron & Steel Company wished to move forward with rehabilitation of iron and steelmaking at HADISOLB. Metals Consulting International (MCI) was approached for support with preparation of a bankable feasibility study.

A team of MCI consultants that included market, technical and financial experts - led by Dr Andrzej Kotas - visited the plant and engaged with management in discussions concerning the modernisation. Within a few weeks, this team prepared a comprehensive written feasibility report (with a financial model) concerning the rehabilitation. The feasibility study was prepared on time and to the agreed scope and budget and included a number of techno-commercial recommendations for performance improvement.

The management of HADISOLB were very pleased with the performance of MCI, who supported us both diligently and efficiently in moving forward with the rehabilitation programme. The management of the Egyptian Iron & Steel Company thus have no hesitation in recommending MCI as a professional and highly competent firm of steel industry consulting advisers."

"I confirm that Metals Consulting International Limited (MCI) completed a desk-based valuation of the assets of the Beshay Steel Group in January 2021.

The Beshay Steel assets comprise: A 2.0Mt/y Midrex direct reduction facility; 4.2 Mt/y steelmaking capacity; 2.4 Mt/y rolling capacity; Supporting infrastructure such as water treatment works, sub-stations and oxygen plant; 50,000t/y fabrication facility; Transport fleet.

We were very happy to work with the MCI team comprising Mr Alan Grimmond and Dr Andrzej Kotas. The valuation report was comprehensive and delivered on time."