Atkins

Warning to Shareholders

In recent years many companies have become aware that their shareholders have received unsolicited telephone calls or correspondence concerning investment matters. These are typically from overseas-based ‘brokers’ who target UK shareholders offering to sell them what often turn out to be worthless or high-risk shares in US or UK investments. These operations are commonly know as ‘boiler rooms’. These ‘brokers’ can be very persistent and extremely persuasive and it has been reported that the average amount lost by investors is around £20,000, with the largest individual loss being £1.2m. It is not just the novice investor who has been duped in this way; many of the victims had been successfully investing for several years.

Shareholders are advised to be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount or offers of free company reports. The following advice is provided:

• Only ever deal with companies authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). You can check the register of authorised firms at www.fsa.gov.uk/register/
• Make sure you get the correct name of the person and organisation who contacted you. Call the organisation back using the telephone number listed for them on the FSA register to verify their identity.
• Callers may be persistent, so hang up the phone if they continue to contact you.
• Under normal circumstances authorised firms cannot make cold calls. If you receive an uninvited call or email from an organisation of which you are not a customer, treat it with extreme caution and report the incident to the FSA either by calling 0845 606 1234 or by visiting www.moneymadeclear.org.uk
• The FSA also maintains on its website a list of unauthorised overseas firms who are targeting, or have targeted, UK investors and any approach from such organisations should be reported to the FSA so that this list can be kept up to date and any other appropriate action can be considered. The FSA can be contacted by completing an online form at www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/doing/regulated/law/alerts/overseas.shtml
• Inform our Registrar.

If you deal with an unauthorised firm you will not be eligible to receive payment under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Details of any share dealing facilities that the Company endorses will be included in Company mailings or on our website.

More detailed information on this or similar activity can be found on the Consumer Financial Education Body website www.moneymadeclear.org.uk

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