Mr. Ian Edwards reports

ATKINSREALIS & STANTEC JOINT VENTURE WINS PLACE ON THE UK'S LARGEST WATER RESOURCE PROGRAM

AtkinsRealis (SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.) has been appointed to the technical partner framework on the largest strategic water resources options (SRO) program in the United Kingdom -- in a joint venture with Stantec.

Thames Water, the U.K.'s largest water company, is rolling out its plan to secure water supplies for the future and has appointed the AtkinsRealis Stantec joint venture to deliver on a number of solutions for its customers and stakeholders in the southeast of England. These include new pipelines to transfer supplies, a waste water reuse scheme in London and the development of a new reservoir at Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

The framework will give Thames Water access to professional support services worth up to 300 million pounds sterling across three separate joint venture consortia (including the AtkinsRealis Stantec JV) as it works to advance a number of strategic projects.

The AtkinsRealis Stantec JV will provide a range of services to support the strategic resource options (SRO) projects as part of an initial three-year contract which can be extended up to eight years. As well as consulting and advisory, design, engineering, and environmental services, the joint venture will also provide project management, planning and consenting, stakeholder management, and consultation.

"Faced with the global challenges of climate change and population growth, the supply of clean drinking water, and the development of new infrastructure to deliver it, is paramount for the water sector," said Ian L. Edwards, president and chief executive officer, AtkinsRealis. "The plan from Thames Water amounts to the largest strategic water resources program in the U.K., and will secure the water supplies for millions of customers and stakeholders in the south and southeast of England for generations to come. At the same time, it will deliver on sustainability improvements and nature-based projects that benefit the environment and create social value for communities, which aligns completely with our purpose of engineering a better future for the planet and its people."

The measures outlined by Thames Water are designed to safeguard supplies and decrease water shortages during prolonged drought periods. The AtkinsRealis Stantec JV will deploy a range of tools to support strategic water resource planning as well as environment-led design, and a clear and understandable digital system strategy for Thames Water. The joint venture will also be drawing on expertise from AtkinsRealis's transportation division to develop the road and rail infrastructure necessary for Abingdon reservoir and other projects across the SRO portfolio.

"Drawing on decades of experience working on environmentally sensitive projects -- including the design, planning and consenting for Abingdon reservoir and Havant Thicket reservoir in Hampshire -- and harnessing the latest digital technology, we look forward to continuing our relationship with Thames Water to deliver this critical water resource program alongside our joint venture partner Stantec," said Richard Robinson, president for U.K. and Ireland, AtkinsRealis.

The framework represents a significant investment in water infrastructure, while also embedding sustainable solutions for the sector.

About SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.

Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRealis is a world-leading professional services and project management company dedicated to engineering a better future for the planet and its people. The company creates sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. It deploys global capabilities locally to its clients and delivers unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset, including consulting, advisory and environmental services, intelligent networks and cybersecurity, design and engineering, procurement, project and construction management, operations and maintenance, decommissioning, and capital. The breadth and depth of the company's capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as engineering services, nuclear and capital.