THAMES WATER has picked US investment firm KKR as its “preferred partner” in a bid to fight off renationalisation.

The privatised utility, which recently went through court proceedings to secure a £3 billion bailout, is hoping to finalise the terms of a possible deal with KKR in the second quarter of this year and aims to complete it in the second half of 2025.

The US private equity firm is understood to have lodged a £4bn equity bid in return for a majority stake.