Over 90% of English water companies are owned by a mix of international investors, private equity funds, and banks[1]. Most of these companies are owned through complex corporate structures, with the majority of shares held by entities based outside the UK, including sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and investment firms[3].
Key examples of ownership include:
- Thames Water: Partly owned by investors from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, China, Australia, and Canada. Its holding company, Kemble Water, is also backed by major pension funds and sovereign wealth funds[1][3][6].
- Wessex Water: 100% owned by YTL, a Malaysian company[1][3][5].
- Northumbrian Water: Owned by businesses linked to Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka Shing[1].
- Yorkshire Water: Over half owned by Hong Kong investment firms, a third by the Singapore government, and the remainder by an Australian pension scheme[3][5].
- Southern Water: Controlled by Greensands Holdings Limited, a company registered in Jersey and ultimately majority-owned by Australia’s Macquarie Group[5].
- United Utilities, Severn Trent, Pennon Group (including South West Water and Bournemouth Water): These are listed on the London Stock Exchange, with shares held by a variety of institutional investors, including pension and investment funds from the UK and overseas[3][5].
Public and not-for-profit models exist in other parts of the UK:
- Welsh Water (Dŵr Cymru) is operated as a not-for-profit mutual company[1][4].
- Scottish Water and Northern Ireland Water remain in public ownership, controlled by devolved governments[1][4].
Overall, foreign entities, including private equity and pension funds, own a large portion—estimated at about 70%—of English water companies, while local public or not-for-profit models dominate elsewhere in the UK[5].
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