ATK.L Regulatory News (ATK)

Atkins acquires additional expertise in the oil and gas sector

WS Atkins plc ("Atkins" or "the Group") has acquired Pöyry's 130 people-strong oil and gas business debt free for a cash consideration of EUR17.25 million. This acquisition considerably strengthens Atkins position in the buoyant oil and gas support services sector by bringing on board a world class front end design capability. It continues Atkins' strategy of growing skills in its Energy business.

The acquisition of Pöyry's strong development engineering design and operational support capability expands Atkins' service offering in the oil and gas sector, enabling it to provide a complete multi-discipline design service for all types of offshore developments.

The integration of the Pöyry teams in Aberdeen, Stavanger (Norway) and Perth (Australia) with Atkins' existing operations in the UK, Europe, Middle East and North America will provide a platform from which to grow in the world's major oil and gas centres. In particular, the acquisition provides increased access to the significant gas developments and Liquefied Natural Gas market in Western Australia and Europe.

Keith Clarke, chief executive, said: "This acquisition represents a step up in Atkins' ability to deliver process-led multi-disciplinary projects, adding to our traditional oil and gas consultancy and assurance services, on a worldwide scale."

This acquisition follows the purchase of the Technical Services Scotland group from RWE npower in March which added strength to Atkins' capability in power generation.

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Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is the UK's largest engineering and design consultancy and the world's 11th largest design firm. We have the depth and breadth of expertise to respond to the most technically challenging and time critical infrastructure projects and the urgent transition to a low-carbon economy. Whether it's the concept for a new skyscraper, the upgrade of a rail network, the modelling of a flood defence system or the improvement of a management process, we plan, design and enable solutions.

Atkins was named among The Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to Work For 2011, won Consultancy of the Year in the CIBSE Low Carbon Performance Awards 2010; received the first ever certification of the Carbon Trust Standard awarded to an engineering consultancy in the construction sector; and was included in The Times Top 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work 2009 and The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2010. Atkins was also construction and civil engineering sector winner for the fifth consecutive year in the Target National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2010 and was awarded a RoSPA Gold Award 2010 for excellence in control of health and safety in the workplace.

Atkins is the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.