Shares in WS Atkins (ATK) shot up 7 per cent after management announced the acquisition of the nuclear services part of waste management company Energy Solutions. The engineering group paid £209m for the projects, products and technology (PP&T) segment, which it expects to be double-digit earnings enhancing in the first full year after completion of the deal. The acquisition will expand the group's footprint in the North American waste management sector.
The acquired business manages the decontamination and decommissioning of high hazard nuclear facilities and the removal of pollution from nuclear storage sites. For the year ended 31 December 2014, it reported revenue from continuing operations of $281m (£185m) and adjusted operating profit of $30.7m.
