Broking & Consultancy: Consulting, Training, Project Analysis, Research and IT Services

Whilst focusing on crude oil and petroleum products broking, PVM became aware of a growing demand for informed and professional consultancy and training. The market choice has been to pay a huge up-front fee to a major consultancy group who sub-contract to companies like PVM, or a small fee to individual consultants who, whilst experts at one point, have difficulty remaining up to date with market developments. This is the gap we have concentrated on in response to numerous requests for assistance beyond broking.

To this end, in 1994, PVM set up consulting and training services within PVM Vienna and IT risk management software and research followed. The group’s activities expanded to employ 60 people covering all sections of the globe in their research and analysis. In 2008 PVM Vienna was split into three separate companies with different ownership structures to reflect the contributions of those involved. PVM have retained a majority share of PVM Data Services GmbH, while the research, consultancy, publications and training have been taken over by JBC Energy. The trading software activities fall within ComFin Software and Consulting Services GmbH, which was founded in 2005.  

JBC’s training services are booked well in advance by producers, governments, refiners and traders. Consultancy and project analysis services have been provided to multi-national and independent refiners and producers as well as government agencies and OPEC countries. JBC representatives are frequent speakers at international gatherings.

The software system called “TheBulldog” is a front, mid and back office tool that can handle both physical and paper transactions supporting the entire chain of deal administration, operations and risk management. TheBulldog software is marketed, installed and operated by JBC’s subsidiary Comfin and has modules covering Freight Forwards as well as crude oil and products.