Grant Thornton International welcomes the expansion of its member firm in Hong Kong as it adds partners and staff of Moores Rowland

2 July 2007

David McDonnell, chief executive officer of Grant Thornton International today announced new developments in China for the rapidly expanding international accounting organisation.

Six partners and 80 employees from Moores Rowland, Hong Kong member of Moores Rowland International, have joined Grant Thornton Hong Kong, a member firm of Grant Thornton International. This will result in the Grant Thornton member firm in Hong Kong having 21 partners and 480 employees.

David comments: "With China on everyone's lips as the future engine of global growth, this development provides Grant Thornton International with additional critical mass in Hong Kong to support our strategy for growth in China. It also represents the contribution our Hong Kong firm is making to bolster the international network and follows recent investments made by other Grant Thornton International member firms such as those in the UK, India, Japan, Russia and parts of South America."

Grant Thornton and Moores Rowland are two of the major and longest established accounting firms in Hong Kong. Moores Rowland partners Mark Fong, Raphael Ding, Daniel Lin, Michael Sim, Kelvin Kwong and Calvin Chiu are joining the Grant Thornton member firm in Hong Kong together with 80 staff.

Gabriel Azedo, managing partner of Grant Thornton Hong Kong and a member of the Grant Thornton International global leadership board comments: "This is a significant expansion, making Grant Thornton a stronger accounting firm offering the highest quality and partner-led professional services. We believe that our similar focus on the emerging enterprises sector will make for an ideal match. It will create enhanced strength, capacity and market credibility in the profession and the marketplaces. We are delighted to welcome the partners and staff from Moores Rowland into our firm."

Mark Fong, senior partner at Moores Rowland in Hong Kong says: "It is our shared vision for further significant growth as a recognised leader in the profession which makes for this excellent match. We are very much looking forward to an exciting future as part of the Grant Thornton International organisation. Our mission is to benefit our clients by providing a wider range of services and expertise, especially in mainland China, which the enlarged firm and the international network will be able to offer them- in response to the growing market demand for more choice of quality professional service providers."

Ends

For further information please contact:
Jonathan Geldart
Director of Marketing Communications
Grant Thornton International
T +44 (0)207 391 9530

www.gti.org

Or

Jess Koslow
Senior PR Executive
Grant Thornton International
T: +44 (0)207 391 9564


Notes to editors

About Grant Thornton International

Grant Thornton International is one of the world's leading organisations of independently owned and managed accounting and consulting firms providing assurance, tax and specialist business advice to privately held businesses and public interest entities. The strength of each local firm is reflected in the quality of the international organisation. All Grant Thornton International member firms share a commitment to providing the same high quality service to their clients wherever they choose to do business.

Grant Thornton International is a non-practising international umbrella organisation and does not deliver services in its own name or otherwise. Each member and correspondent firm in Grant Thornton International is a separate national firm. These firms are not members of one international partnership or otherwise legal partners with each other (with the exception of certain limited instances), nor is any one firm responsible for the services or activities of any other.

Grant Thornton International member firms operate in 113 countries in 521 offices worldwide.

About Grant Thornton Hong Kong

Grant Thornton Hong Kong is one of the leading accounting, tax and specialist advisory firms dedicated to serving the needs of growing companies. In Hong Kong and Mainland China, Grant Thornton Hong Kong currently has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Grant Thornton Hong Kong is a member of Grant Thornton International. For more information, please visit www.gthk.com.hk.