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Hong Kong's CKI could be lead contender to buy Thames Water
The Guardian
|August 14, 2025
A Chinese company is reportedly a leading contender to buy Thames Water if the heavily indebted business collapses in coming weeks.
Hong Kong's CKI, which invests in power and other utility businesses in the UK, is among those lining up to acquire the water company if it enters a special administration regime (SAR), according to the Times.
It has reportedly said it would be prepared to operate under tougher penalties for environmental breaches than Thames's class A creditors, who have put together their own bid.
The creditor group has said the company cannot afford to operate with an expected £1bn of fines coming down the track, which are levied by Ofwat, the regulator for England and Wales, for breaches such as illegally dumping sewage. In May, Thames was hit with a record £104m fine over environmental breaches involving sewage spills.
This story is from the August 14, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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