1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer
of existing shares to which voting rights are
attached: ii

WS Atkins plc

2 Reason for the notification (please tick the appropriate box or boxes):

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights

Yes

An acquisition or disposal of qualifying financial instruments which may result in the acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached

An acquisition or disposal of instruments with similar economic effect to qualifying financial instruments

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights

Other (please specify):

3. Full name of person(s) subject to the
notification obligation: 

Barclays Global Investors

4. Full name of shareholder(s) 
 (if different from 3.):

Barclays Global Fund Advisors

Barclays Global Investors (Deutschland) AG

Barclays Global Investors Ltd

Barclays Global Investors, N.A.

5. Date of the transaction and date on
which the threshold is crossed or
reached: 

3 November 2009

6. Date on which issuer notified:

4 November 2009

7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or
reached: 

6% to 7%

8. Notified details:

A: Voting rights attached to shares 

Class/type of
shares

if possible using
the ISIN CODE

Situation previous
to the triggering
transaction

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Number
of
Shares

Number
of
Voting
Rights

Number
of shares

Number of voting
rights

% of voting rights 

Direct 

Indirect 

Direct

Indirect

GB0000608009

5,462,007

5,462,007

5,471,428

0

5,471,428

0

5.47%

B: Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of financial
instrument

Expiration
date xiii

Exercise/ 
Conversion Period 

Number of voting
rights that may be
acquired if the
instrument is
exercised/ converted.

% of voting
rights

C: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect to Qualifying Financial Instruments xv, xvi

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of financial
instrument

Exercise price

Expiration date 

Exercise/
Conversion period 

Number of voting rights instrument refers to

% of voting rights 

1,538,412

1.54%

Total (A+B+C)

Number of voting rights

Percentage of voting rights

7,009,840

7.00%

9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the
financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable: xxi

Barclays Global Fund Advisors

Barclays Global Investors (Deutschland) AG

Barclays Global Investors Ltd

Barclays Global Investors, N.A.

Proxy Voting:

10. Name of the proxy holder:

11. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease
to hold:

12. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold
voting rights:

13. Additional information:

14. Contact name:

Geoff Smith

15. Contact telephone number:

020 7116 2913