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

Its results were boosted by acquisitions, including highway design consultancy Münnich Projeckt in Germany and planning and landscape architects ACLA in Hong Kong and China Tim Wade, Hyder’s chief executive, said: “We want to reach critical mass in China and Germany. At any one time we are talking to five targets.”

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

Interim turnover was up 20% to £97.2m.