Press Release

NGO Research Group Announces New Name: Frontier Strategy Group - Effective January 1, 2006

Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 10, 2006 -- NGO Research Group, the global consulting and research firm specializing in analyzing above-ground risks facing the natural resources industries, has changed its name to Frontier Strategy Group as of January 1, 2006. The company, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, provides consulting and research services on over 50 countries critical to the natural resources industries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Former Soviet Union.

“Today we are a very different organization than we were at our founding, so adopting a new name and brand identity is the logical next step in our growth strategy,” said Alex Turkeltaub, a Managing Director at the firm. “Frontier Strategy Group expresses what we have become as an organization – a firm focused on helping natural resources companies succeed in countries where above-ground risks matter as much as below-ground fundamentals.”

Managing Above-Ground Risks is Key to Success in the Natural Resources Industries

As mining, energy, and paper & pulp companies seek to replace reserves, they are increasingly investing in countries at the risk frontier. The key risks in these countries are above-ground: political instability, resource nationalism, regulatory uncertainty, unclear environmental obligations, increasing levels of community unrest, and the rise of new competitors from China and India. These risks create a challenging operating environment.

“Management and Boards are devoting an enormous amount of their time to above-ground issues,” notes Managing Director Alex Gorbansky. “Our goal is to help clients acquire new reserves, more effectively permit projects, and maximize the value of existing assets in countries like Russia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Peru and others, where above-ground risks can be the real deal breakers.”

Frontier Strategy Group Capabilities

Frontier Strategy Group draws on its unique and deep industry knowledge as well as an extensive network of companies, government officials, experts, and on-the-ground sources to give clients asymmetrical knowledge not available to others. Our capabilities include the following:

Industry Practices: Energy, Metals and Mining, and Pulp & Paper.

Functional Consulting Practices Exploration, New Ventures, and Country-Entry, Mergers & Acquisitions Diligence, Joint Ventures Diligence, Existing Asset Advisory, Government Relations, Social License, and others.

Annual Above-Ground Risk Country Ratings for the Mining Industry: Ratings for over 50 key mining countries provide decision-makers with an objective measure of above-ground risk broken down by key risk categories at the regional, national, and project-specific level.

About Frontier Strategy Group

Frontier Strategy Group is a global consulting and research firm that specializes in analyzing the above-ground geopolitical, regulatory, environmental, and social risks facing the natural resources industries. Frontier Strategy Group advises companies on new ventures & exploration, mergers & acquisitions, and existing operations at the risk frontier. Frontier Strategy Group is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Postal Address: 58 Charles Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA.

Media Contact:
Alexis Horowitz-Burdick: +1 202 280 2060 or via email at ahorowitz-burdick@frontierstrategygroup.com