Thames Water rescue in doubt as Government ‘raises objections over deal’
The utility firm is reportedly on the brink of temporary nationalisation
Thames Water is reportedly on the brink of temporary nationalisation after the Environment Secretary cast doubt on a £10 billion rescue deal for the troubled supplier.
Emma Reynolds is understood to have written to water regulator Ofwat on Monday warning the current bid tabled by Thames Water creditors would place an “undue burden” on customers.
The Government’s misgivings over the deal comes as Ofwat is said to have been close to accepting the offer from bidding consortium London & Valley Water, which has proposed injecting £10 billion into debt-laden Thames Water in return for any new fines over sewage leaks being waived for four years.
Thames Water – Britain’s biggest water supplier with 16 million customers – is hoping to secure the deal to stave off temporary nationalisation after being left close to collapse by nearly £20 billion of debt.
It has also faced a series of hefty fines for its poor environmental performance in recent years.
A rescue bid by creditors is seen as the final realistic option on the table to avoid being placed into the Government’s so-called special administration regime after a previous rescue deal with US private equity giant KKR collapsed in May last year.
Administrators have already been lined up to step in if needed.
Ms Reynolds’s criticism of the deal centres on concerns that customers will lose out under the creditors’ offer, according to The Times, which first reported the details of the letter.
It is thought she raised worries that the creditors’ proposal was “weak”.
But the Government has repeatedly said it prefers a “market solution” over temporary nationalisation.
Ms Reynolds is set to address Parliament on Tuesday.
Ofwat and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been approached for comment.
The letter from Ms Reynolds comes in a difficult week for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, with Andy Burnham – the mayor of Greater Manchester – hoping to win the Makerfield by-election on Thursday, which would pave the way for him to launch a leadership challenge.
Mr Burnham recently signalled he wants to bring in a 10-year plan to renationalise the water industry, saying reform is needed to put the public interest first.
It had been expected that the Government would give its backing to the Thames Water takeover this summer, with the utility fast running out of cash and said to be facing collapse within months if a deal is not forthcoming.
Thames Water said it has enough funding until September.
London & Valley Water’s proposed deal would see it inject £3.35 billion of new equity into Thames Water and up to £6.55 billion in new debt.
But it is said that Thames Water would also have to pay nearly £750 million to its creditors, lawyers and advisers as part of the restructuring.
The supplier would reportedly be on the hook for £160 million in fees, plus £285 million in accrued interest owed to creditors, which include institutional investors such as US hedge funds Elliott Management and Silverpoint Capital.
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “It is positive that the Secretary of State has provided feedback to Ofwat in relation to the London & Valley Water plan.
“We will continue working with all parties to reach an agreement that supports long-term financial stability and delivers better outcomes for customers and the environment.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub