Even when all concerned are on the same page, bringing product to market is a difficult process. Add in a few people and/or conditions that are not pulling in the same direction, and the entire process can become a major headache. Some markets are more oriented toward the headache end of the spectrum but are generally that way because there is a tremendous payoff when the product does make it to market. An investor who wants a big payoff is an investor who is willing to ride the ups and downs of a tumultuous development process to a profitable end.

ERHC Energy Inc., an oil and gas exploration and development company, works to find and exploit oil and gas deposits primarily off the coast of Central West Africa. Although the company has rights to several development blocks off the coasts of the Democratic Republic of Nigeria and the Democratic Republic