Knowles

Welcome to Knowles

As we enter 2008, I am pleased to report record revenues and operating profit across the Consultancy and Claims Group, particularly amongst former and current Knowles operations. More importantly, we are seeing the direct benefits of the coming together of the two companies in the form of appointments on larger, more complex disputes as well as a significant increase in non-contentious work. We are particularly pleased with our growth and profitability in the UK, Europe and the Middle East, where our biggest challenge remains recruiting of qualified new hires.

Several Knowles offices have now rebranded as Hill International, including those in Scotland, Birmingham and Leeds. Our core Knowles business, consisting primarily of commercial and contractual advice and adjudication services, is now based out of London and Daresbury, and continues to grow rapidly. The contracts and clients we are winning are growing in number and significance.

One of the most significant decisions made by Hill International since the takeover was to wind up Knowles's associated solicitors practice, and this has allowed us to re-establish strong links with law firms, for whom we are now working closely and carrying out a growing level of expert witness assignments.

We continue to be the largest construction contracts and claims consultancy in the world, in addition to being one of the largest pure project management firms.

We have recently expanded the project management side of our business in the UK with the acquisition of Shreeves and, as such, are now ideally placed to give our clients in the UK access to the full range of Hill International's services. We are also delighted to announce the recent acquisition of Gerens, a Spanish project management firm, to further strengthen and expand our global team.

In addition, Hill has been recognised as the fastest growing construction consultancy firm in the UK by Building in 2007, as well as for excellence in the management of our client's projects worldwide.

Our clients continue to play a vital part in the success of both Hill and Knowles and we look forward to working with you to ensure the success of your projects both now and in the future.