KKR expected to acquire stake worth £4bn as UK’s biggest water supplier tries to stave off nationalisation

Thames Water has picked the US investment firm KKR to take a stake in the business, as the embattled water company fights to stave off nationalisation.

The UK’s biggest water supplier, which is struggling under a debt pile of close to £20bn, said it had selected KKR as a “preferred partner” as it seeks to secure fresh equity funding for its operations by the end of June. The New York-based private equity firm is expected to acquire a stake in Thames worth £4bn.