Africon, Connell Wagner, Ninham Shand in new group

MEDIA RELEASE

Africon, Connell Wagner and Ninham Shand Announce Formation of a New Global Group

Auckland, 17 March 2009: Connell Wagner (Pty) Ltd, one of Asia Pacific’s largest and most experienced multi-disciplinary infrastructure consulting companies, Africon (Pty) Ltd, South Africa’s largest privately owned infrastructure consultancy, and Ninham Shand (Pty) Ltd, one of South Africa’s most established engineering and environmental consultancies, have today confirmed that they have come together to form a new multi-disciplinary global group.

The newly created group, called Aurecon, will provide professional technical services on large scale integrated infrastructure projects to clients across Europe, Middle East and Africa (AME) and Asia Pacific (APAC). Given the geographical reach of Aurecon’s operations, the globalgroup will be headquartered in Singapore and employ over 6,700 people across 87 offices in 28 countries.

It is anticipated that Aurecon will rank in the top 60 global consulting firms based on the anticipated combined revenues of the combined businesses.

Paul Hardy, previously CEO and Chairman of Connell Wagner, has been appointed Aurecon’s Global CEO and the former non-executive Chairman of Africon, Professor Jakes Gerwel, will be Aurecon’s non-executive Global Chairman. Dr Gustav Rohde, previously CEO of Africon, and Arnie Möhr, past Managing Director of Ninham Shand, will assume the roles of CEO AME and Deputy Chairman of the Leadership Team, AME Zone, respectively.

Paul Hardy, Aurecon CEO, said: “The formation of Aurecon is about bringing together three companies which share a common vision with the aim of both complementing and strengthening the capabilities of each organisation.

“As Aurecon, we have the opportunity to leverage our considerable expertise across a wide range of sectors and offer our clients an expanded range of technical skills and services. In addition, we are able to both provide greater opportunities for our employees, and grow the bottom line for our shareholders. Aurecon will also reduce our reliance on local business and allow for expansion into new markets within growing economies where we currently have little or no presence.”

The requirements for Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa have been recognised and incorporated into the final ownership model. Aurecon will assume a status as a level 4 contributor to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa.

Approval for the formation of Aurecon has been provided and is unopposed by the South African Competition Commission.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

Connell Wagner is one of Asia Pacific’s largest and most experienced multi-disciplinary engineering consultancies. It has a proud history spanning more than 75 years, a employees complement of some 4,200, and a network of 49 offices in 12 countries across Australasia, South-East Asia, China, India and the Middle East. The company provides a broad range of professional technical services spanning diverse market sectors, namely buildings, industrial,transportation, urban development, water, international development, environment, energy, telecommunications and defence.

Africon is South Africa’s largest multidisciplinary engineering consultancy currently ranked amongst the world’s “top 200 international design firms1”. The company, established in 1951, has a 58-year history, a employees complement of more than 1 900 and an office network extending across South Africa, the rest of Africa and the Middle East. Africon serves both the public and private sectors within the fields of transportation, property, municipal services,energy, and mining.

Ninham Shand is one of South Africa’s leading, privately owned companies of consulting engineers and environmental scientists with a proud history spanning over 76 years. The company has an employee complement of almost 600 and a network of 19 offices spreading throughout South Africa and into Lesotho and Mozambique. Active in a wide variety of disciplines, Ninham Shand offers a comprehensive consulting service which includes water resources and supply, heavy engineering, purification, infrastructure services, structures and buildings, transportation and roads, and environmental science. Over the years, the company has been involved in a number of landmark projects and has won many prestigious awards.

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