黑洞社区

Three of the UK鈥檚 largest consultants - Turner & Townsend, Sweett Group and Gleeds - are aiming to almost double the size of their Asian operations within three years, 黑洞社区 can reveal.

The news comes a week after Arcadis announced expansion in the region with the acquisition of the former Asia division of Davis Langdon, 拢79m-turnover Davis Langdon & Seah (DLS).

Turner & Townsend鈥檚 拢13m-turnover Asia division is targeting 25-30% revenue growth a year over at least the 鈥渕edium term鈥�, its Asia managing director Duncan Stone said.

If the division meets its growth targets, it will double its turnover to at least 拢25m within three years.

Stone said T&T鈥檚 rate of growth in Asia could 鈥渁ccelerate if we are successful with mergers and acquisitions鈥� and said the firm was in a 鈥渟trong commercial position鈥� to secure deals.

He added the firm was looking particularly at M&A options in India, China and north-east Asia generally, areas where the firm 鈥渨ants to grow very quickly鈥�.

Sweett Group is planning to almost double income from its combined Asia and Australasia division from 拢25m to 拢40m within three years.

Sweett chief executive Dean Webster said the expansion would be achieved through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions.

Sweett sees particular growth opportunities for its Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand businesses and is also exploring how to establish a presence in South Korea, Indonesia and Cambodia.

Gleeds chief executive Richard Steer said there was 鈥渁lmost exponential鈥� potential for the firm in Asia, which is aiming to double its 拢6m-turnover Asian business within three years.

Arcadis, Aecom and Rider Levett Bucknall also said they expected their Asian businesses to grow, but did not disclose targets.

UK QS Faithful + Gould said it was aiming to grow its Asian division by 20% in the next three to four years, but declined to disclose turnover figures.

Webster said consultants could not afford to delay if they wanted to enter the Asian market.

He said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a maturing market [鈥�] it鈥檚 going to be quite difficult for people who aren鈥檛 established to enter that market now.鈥�

Analysts this week valued Arcadis鈥� DLS takeover at 拢90m-100m, based on the published increase in the Dutch engineer鈥檚 debt following the transaction.

Arcadis would not comment on this figure.

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