Acquisition

RNS Number:6858P
Hyder Consulting PLC
10 March 2008


      HYDER CONSULTING PLC ("Hyder Consulting", the "Group" or the "Company")

                          ACQUISITION AND CASH PLACING

Hyder Consulting, the international advisory and design consultancy, is pleased
to announce the acquisition of an architectural and interior design consultancy
in the United Arab Emirates and related cash placing of new ordinary shares.

                      ACQUISITION OF HOLFORD & ASSOCIATES

The Group's Middle East business has acquired the business and assets of Holford
& Associates ("Holfords"). Based in Dubai, Holfords is an architectural and
interior design consultancy, which has been operating primarily in Dubai for
over 20 years, with an order book encompassing projects across the United Arab
Emirates and Oman.

The initial consideration for the acquisition amounts to �9.2 million, of which
�7.1 million is payable in cash, and �2 million will be satisfied by the issue
of 471,974 fully paid Hyder Consulting ordinary shares (the "Consideration
Shares").  A further payment of up to �6.1 million is payable in cash over three
years dependent on future performance.  Three of the five vendor partners, David
James Tripney, Saeed Al Jabri and Colin Thomas Wood, will remain employed in the
business, whilst the other two, Ed Bain and Robert Fernandez, will retire on
completion.  A team of around 220 staff will transfer. Turnover, as stated in
the audited accounts for Holfords for the year to 30 September 2007, amounted to
approximately �8.2 million, with profits before tax of �2.5 million.  The gross
assets acquired are approximately �4.9 million, with net assets of approximately
�2.2 million.

In line with the Group's strategy of building critical mass and improving
margins, the acquisition significantly strengthens the Group's Middle East
business and brings the number of people employed in the region to approximately
1,500. The integration of Holfords will allow Hyder Consulting to offer a full
range of property services in this growing market, and provides it with the
ability to grow the Holfords architectural and interior design business
throughout the Group's Middle East network. The acquisition is expected to be
earnings enhancing within its first full year of operation in the Group.

Tim Wade, Chief Executive of Hyder Consulting commented, "I'm delighted to
announce the acquisition of Holfords, with whom we have worked closely for many
years and enjoy a great cultural fit.  The acquisition reinforces our position
in the region as a leading provider of advisory and design services to both
property developers and world-renowned concept architects".

                                  CASH PLACING

The Company has (conditional upon certain matters, including admission of the
new shares) raised approximately �4.4 million (before expenses) by way of a
placing for cash of 1,050,000 new ordinary shares of 10 pence each ('Cash
Placing Shares') with institutional and other investors at 415 pence per share
by Numis Securities Limited ('Numis'). It is intended that the proceeds will be
used in the funding of the acquisition of Holfords.

                           APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

Application will be made for the Consideration Shares and Cash Placing Shares,
which will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing issued ordinary
shares in the Company, to be admitted to the Official List of the UKLA and to
trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities.  Admission
is expected to become effective on 13 March 2008.

For further details:

Tim Wade, Chief Executive, Hyder Consulting PLC                 Tel: 020 7316 6000
Simon Hamilton-Eddy, Financial Director, Hyder Consulting PLC   Tel: 020 7316 6000
Shane Dolan, Biddicks                                           Tel: 020 7448 1000


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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