Black & Veatch Experiences Significant Growth In Its Regional Asia Pacific Water Business

Black & Veatch, a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company, announced that it more than tripled the annual revenues of its water business in the Asia Pacific region during 2007. Last year, the business posted around US$ 170M in revenues up from around US$50M in previous years.

"This significant growth was a result of our capitalizing on opportunities in new markets and improving operations and efficiencies in traditional ones," said Ralph Eberts, Senior Managing Director of Black & Veatch's water business in Asia Pacific.

"Accelerated delivery of major projects in the region further contributed to the large increase in volume. We were also fortunate enough to secure several key projects in China last year, including some very important work in Hong Kong SAR."

In 2007, Black & Veatch enjoyed a number of business successes, including the opening of a Global Design Centre and Centre of Excellence for Desalination in Singapore, the delivery of high quality water from Stage 1A of the Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant in Southeast Queensland and the opening of our office in Sydney, Australia.

In Hong Kong SAR, the company secured projects that include assessing the condition of water reservoirs in Hong Kong and enhance water delivery and effective wastewater management in the Port Shelter area. In PR China, Black & Veatch commenced consultancy on a major environmental improvement project to help clean up the Qinhuai River that flows through Nanjing City. Other projects included providing specialist consultancy advice on a Drainage Master Plan for the centre of Guangzhou City and the development of the Kunming Dianchi International Wetland Park Project in Yunnan Province.

The company also announced that Richard Dagwell has been appointed as the Regional Director of Projects. "Richard's addition to our team will help support the increased volume of business and continue to drive growth and provide value to our clients in the region," Eberts said.

Dagwell, who is based in Brisbane and is currently the company's senior manager on the US$ 360M Bundamba AWT Plant alliance, also represents Black & Veatch on the Alliance Leadership Team for the W2W Alliance in Perth, Western Australia. The W2W alliance is providing EPC and construction management services for the modification and upgrading of major wastewater treatment plants in the metropolitan areas of Perth. Prior to relocating to Australia, Dagwell was a regional director of Black & Veatch's UK water business, where he was responsible for about US$ 90M in annual revenue for projects located in the North and Western areas of the UK.

"The Asia Pacific region represents such a diverse set of issues and challenges for engineers," Dagwell said. "I'm looking forward to working closer with the regional management team and helping to drive the business forward."

Dagwell is a graduate of the University of Surrey, where he received a master's degree in chemical and bioprocess engineering. He is a member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and the Engineering Council in the UK.

About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company specializing in infrastructure development in energy, water, telecommunications, management consulting, federal and environmental markets. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch develops tailored infrastructure solutions that meet clients' needs and provide sustainable benefits. Solutions are provided from the broad line of service expertise available within Black & Veatch, including conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, program management, construction management, environmental, security design and consulting, management consulting and infrastructure planning. With more than $2B in revenue, the employee-owned company has more than 100 offices worldwide and has completed projects in more than 100 countries on six continents.

Black & Veatch's global water business provides innovative, technology-based solutions to utilities, governments and industries worldwide. Local project teams work with multinational water and wastewater treatment process experts to address site-specific challenges through a broad range of consulting, study, planning, design, design-build and construction management services. The company's Web site address is www.bv.com

SOURCE: Black & Veatch