Hyder Consulting is looking for more firms to buy in Asia and Europe after a 216% rise in pre-tax profit to 拢8.1m for the six months to 30 September.

Its results were boosted by acquisitions, including highway design consultancy M眉nnich Projeckt in Germany and planning and landscape architects ACLA in Hong Kong and China Tim Wade, Hyder鈥檚 chief executive, said: 鈥淲e want to reach critical mass in China and Germany. At any one time we are talking to five targets.鈥�

But Wade added that Hyder wanted to keep turnover down and focus on operating margins. He said: 鈥淲e are on target to reach an operating margin of 10% in three to five years.鈥�

Interim turnover was up 20% to 拢97.2m.