Hyder Consulting PLC Annual Report 2012

Operating highlights
Asia-Pacific
Regional revenues were £112.2m (2011: £114.0m);
adjusted operating profits were £14.7m (2011:
£14.4m).
In Australia, our transport division performed well in the
second half. We have secured significant new highway
and rail contracts, and continued to work successfully on
a number of Alliance contracts. Our commercial property
division completed work on the Sydney Centrepoint
development which was opened during the year; market
conditions remain subdued and competitive. We have grown
our resources business organically and acquired a local
resources consultancy, GW Engineers. We are confident of
good growth in this market in the coming year. In China and
Vietnam we have invested in growing our geographical and
market presence, including the opening of a new office in
Chongqing, China.
Middle East
Revenue was £63.8m (2011: £65.5m); adjusted
operating profits increased by 50.0% to £3.9m
(2011: £2.6m).
Results have improved as work begins on new contracts and
our investment in key clients comes to fruition. In Qatar we
have secured important projects with Ashghal, Kahramaa and
Qatar Metro as part of the country’s 2030 infrastructure
development goals and in preparation for the 2022 FIFA
World Cup. In Saudi Arabia we have recently completed
the acquisition of SAK, building our market presence and
increasing our exposure to the growing infrastructure
market there. We have already started benefitting from
this increased presence in the Kingdom through the recent
award of a three year advisory commission from Jeddah
Municipality. Elsewhere we have undertaken major utilities
projects including Step Tunnel in Abu Dhabi and Muharraq
waste water treatment works in Bahrain.
Europe
Westfield
Shopping,
Sydney,
Australia
Revenue was £101.2m (2011: £110.8m); adjusted
operating profits were £5.5m (2011: £6.6m).
In the UK we have grown our rail business in a competitive
market and have been appointed designers on London
Bridge station, undertaken further work for Crossrail, and
implemented platform extension works for Network Rail.
The highways market has been particularly challenging
with lower workload which affected utilisation rates.
More recently we have won a number of projects with the
Highways Agency under framework agreements. Results in
the utilities sector have improved as workload has built up
during the AMP5 programme. In Germany results are ahead
of last year, with Ingenieur Consult, and our industrial
property business performing ahead of expectations.
Dubai Yacht
Club, CMA Tower,
Emirates Towers,
Middle East
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